.0 



Xo 



vO o^ 



c- 






^- .:^^ 






A' 



-^^ 



v^ 









'\" 



sO^' 



^, 



\X- 






•p. 






-.- <^^ 



c^^-. 






^^^■ '--P 



-. ,^^^ 



A^^ 



-N^' 



'fj 



.. .V 



T II E 



L IFE 



OF 



COL. ETHAN ALLEN. 



BY 



JARED SPARKS, LI. J). 



o'. GOODRICH & COMPANY. 




MEMOIR 



OF 



BY- 



JARED SI'AEKS. LL. D. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 



Tni: first settlement of Vermont, and the 
early struggles of the inhaLitants not only 
in 8ul)duing a "wilderness, but establishing 
an independent government, aftbrd some of 
the most remarkable mcidcnts in ximerican 
history. AVhen ue now survey that flour- 
ishing State, presenting in all its parts pop- 
ulous towns and villager., and witness the 
lilgh degree of cultiu'e to which it has at- 
tained, and which, under the most favored 
social organization, is usually the slow achieye- 
ment of time, we can hardly rcahze that sev- 
enty years ago the whole region from the 
Connecticut River to Lake Champlain was a 
waste of forests, an asylum for wild beasts^ 
and a barrier against the inroads of th<? sav- 
ages upon the border settlements of the 
New England Colonies. This change has 
l»oen brought to pass in the first place hy a 
bold and hardy enterprise, and an indomita- 
ble spirit of freedom, which have rarely been 
equalled ; and afterwards by the steady per- 



90 MEMOIR OF 

severance of an enllglitened and industrious 
population, deriving its stock from the sur- 
rounding States, and increasing rapidly from 
its own resources. To the historian this is 
a fertile and attractive theme. Bj the bi- 
ographer it can only he touched, as bearing 
on the deeds and character of the persons, 
•who have been the principal actors in the 
train of events. 

Among those, T?ho were most conspicuous 
in laying the foundation upon which the in- 
dependent State of Vermont has been reared, 
and indeed the leader and champion of that 
resolute band of husbandmen, w'ho first plant- 
-od tliemselves in the wildemes of the Green 
Mountains, -was Ezeia]^ Allen. He was a 
native of Connecticut, -where his father and 
mother w^re likewise bom, the former in 
Coventry, and the latter in Woodbury. Jo- 
seph Allen, the father, after his marriage 
i^-ith Mary Baker, resided in Litchfield^ 
where it is beheved that Ethan and one or 
two other childi^en were born. The parents 
afcerwa,rd3 removed to Cornwall, where other 
.children v^ere bom, making in all six sons 
and two daughters, Ethan, Heman, Heber, 
Le^d, Znnri, Ira, Bydia, and Lucy. All 
the brothers grew up to manhood, and four 
or five of them emigrated to the territory 
ivest of the Green Mountains among the first 



ETHAN ALLEN. VI 

settlors, and wore prominent members of tlio 
social and political compacts into "wliicli the 
inhabitants J2;raduallv formed tliemselves. 
Bold, active, and enterprising, they espoused 
with zeal, and defended with energy, the 
cause of the settlers airainst ;vbat avoi ' d 

the encroaching schemes of their lu., . :s, 
and with a keen interest sustained their share 
in all the border contests. Four of them 

were c- :! in the militr."- ^ rations of 

tlie K 11, and by a ha - and suc- 

cessful adventure at the breaking out of the 
war, in the capture of Ticor.deroga, the 
name of Ethan Allen :::ained a renown, 
which spread widely at ihe time, and has 
been perpetuated m history. 

Bur. ' '■ ^ ;d in our narrative, 

it is n ^ few particulavs ex- 

planatory of what will follow. Among the 
causes of the controversies, Avhich existed 
between tlie colonies in early times, and con- 
tinued down to the llevolution, was the un- 
certainty of boundary lines as described hi 
the old charters. Considerinir the i-im^rance 
of all parties, at the time the charcei-s were 
granted, as to the extent and ioterior situit- 
tion of the country, it was not surprising 
that limits should be vaguely detlned, and 
that the boundaries of one colony should en- 
croach ujKJU those of another. A ditHcult/ 



92 MEMOIR OF 

of this kind arose between the colony of 
New York and those of Connecticut, Massa- 
chusetts, and New Hampshire. By the 
grant of King Charles the Second to his 
brother, the Duke of York, the tract of 
country called New York was bounded on 
the east by Connecticut River, thus conflict- 
ing with the express letter of the Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut charters, which ex- 
tended those colonies westward to the South 
Sea, or Pacific Ocean. After a long con- 
troversy, kept up at times with a good deal 
of heat on both sides, the line of division 
between these colonies was fixed by mutual 
agreement at twenty miles east of Hudson's 
Kiver, running nearly in a north and south 
direction. This line was adopted as a com- 
promise between Connecticut and New 
York, upon the consideration that the Con- 
necticut settlers had established themselves 
so far to the westward under patents from 
that colony, as to be within about twenty 
miles of the Hudson. The Massachusetts 
boundary was decided much later to be a 
continuation of the Connecticut line to the 
north, making the western limit of Massar 
chusetts also twenty miles from the same 
river. This claim was supported mainly on 
the ground of the precedent in the case of 
Connecticut, and was long resisted by New 



ETHAN ALLEN. 93 

York, as interfering with previous grants 
from that colony extending thirty miles east- 
Ava.;l from the Hudson/ 

Meantime New Hampshire had never 
hecn brought into the controversy, because 
tlie Lands to the westward of that province 
beyond Connecticut River had been neither 
settled nor" surveyed. Thci • was indeed a 
small settlement at Fort Dunimer on the 
western marL:in of the River, which was un- 
der the protection of Massachusetts, and 
supposed to be within that colony, till the 
dividhig line between New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts Avas accurately run, when 
Fort Dimimcr was ascertained to be north 
of that line, and was afterwards considered 
as being within the jurisdiction of the sister 
colony. Such was the state of things when 
Benning "Wentworth became governor of 
New Hampshire, with authority from the 
King to issue patents for unimproved lands 
within the limits of his province. Applica- 
tion was made for grants to tiie west of Con- 
necticut River, and even beyond the Green 
Mountains, and in 1749 he gave a patent 
for a township six miles square, near the 
northwest angle of Massachusetts, to be so 
laid out, that its western limit should be 

*See/l State of the Rirjlit of the Colon)/ of Neiv York, 
with licspcct to its Eastern Boundary on Connecticut Riv- 
er, ^c. pp. 5, 7. 



94 MEMOIR 0? 

twentj^ miles from the Hudson, and coincide 
with the boundary hne of Connecticut and 
Massachusetts continued northward. This 
township was called Bennington. 

Although the governor and council of 
New York remonstrated against this grant, 
and claimed for that colony the whole terri- 
tory north of Massachusetts as far eastward 
as Connecticut River, yet Governor Went- 
worth was not deterred by this remonstrance 
from issuing other patents, urging in his jus- 
tification, that New Hampshire had a right 
to the same extension westward as Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut. Fourteen town- 
ships had been granted in 1754, when the 
French war broke out, and, by the peril it 
threatened on the frontiers, discouraged set- 
tlers from seeking a residence there, or vest- 
ing their property in lands, the title to which 
might be put in jeopardy, or their value 
destroyed, by the issue of the contest. Nor 
was it till the glorious victory of Wolfe on 
the Plains of Abraham had wrested Cana- 
da for ever from the French power, secured 
these border territories against all further 
invasion from an ancient foe, and ODened 
the prospects of a speedy and lasting peace, 
that the spirit of enterprise, perhaps of ad- 
venture, combining with the' hope of gain, 
revived a desire of possessing and setthng 



ETJLAN ALLEX. 95 

these "wild lands. Applications for now pa- 
tents thronged daily up(An Governor AVent- 
worth, and within four years' time the "whole 
ninnber of townships granted by hini, to the 
westward of Connecticut Eiver, was one 
hundred and thirty-eight. The territory in- 
cluding these townships Avas known by the 
name of the Kcw Ham.j>sldrc Grants, which 
it retained till the opening of the Revolu- 
tion, "when its present name of Vermont be- 
gan to be adopted. 

At what time Edian Allen and his breth- 
ren emigrated to the Grants is uncertain. 
It "was not, however, till after the reduction 
of Canada, and probably not till the peace 
between Endand and France had been con- 
eluded. Meantime among the inhabitants 
of the New England colonies, a market had 
been found for the lands, and settlers "were 
flocking over the mountains from various 
(juartcrs. Many persons had passed through 
those lands on their "way to the army in Can- 
ada, and become acquainted with their val- 
ue. The easy terms upon which the toAvn- 
ships had been ])atented by G over nor Went- 
wortli enabled the original purchasers to dis- 
pose of shares, and single farms, at very 
low prices, thus holding out strong allure- 
ments to settlers. Apprehensions as to the 
validity of the 'title must also have induced 



B6 MEMOIR OF 

the first proprietors to prefer a quick sale, 
with small profits, to the uncertain prospect 
of larger gains at a future day. By this 
union of policy and interest the lands were 
rapidly sold, in tracts of various dimensions, 
to practical farmers, who resolved to estab- 
lish themselves as permanent residents on 
the soil. Of this number were the Aliens, 
w^ho selected their lands in the township of 
Bennington, to which they removed in com- 
pany with several other persons from Con- 
necticut. 

While these things were going on, the 
governor of New York did not remain an i- 
dle spectator. He wrote letters to the gov- 
ernor of New Hampshire protesting against 
his grants, and published proclamations de- 
claring the Connecticut River to be the boun- 
dary between the two colonies. But nei- 
ther proclamations nor remonstrances pro- 
duced conviction in the mind of Governor 
Wentworth. He continued to issue his war- 
rants ; a population of hardy yeomanry was 
daily increasing in the New Hampshire 
Grants ; a formidable power was taking root 
there, nurtured by the local feelings, united 
objects, and physical strength of the settlers ; 
and the government of New York thought 
it time to seek redress in a higher quarter, 
and appeal to the Crown as the ultimate ar- 



ETIUN ALLEN. 97 

biter in all controversies of this nature. Ac- 
cordini^ly the matter was brought before the 
King in Council, and his Majesty decided 
by a royal decree, in the year 17(34, that 
the Connecticut River was the dividing line 
between New York and New Hampshire. 
In this decision all parties seemed to ac- 
quiesce. Governor Wentworth granted no 
more patents on the west side of the river, 
and the settlers showed no symptoms of un- 
easmess, as the only difference made in their 
condition by the royal decree was, that they 
were now declared to be under the jurisdic- 
tion of New York, whereas they had hither- 
to regarded themselves as under that of New 
Hampshire ; but this change they did not 
contemplate as a grievance, presuming their 
property and civil rights would be as well 
protected by the laws of the one colony as 
by those of the other. 

But herein they soon discovered them- 
selves to be in an error, and to differ widely 
in sentiment from thoir more astut<^ neigh- 
hoi's. Men learned in the law and of high 
station in Now York had made it appear, 
that jurisdiction meant the same thing as 
right of property ; and?ince his Majesty had 
decided Connecticut River to be the east<'rn 
limit of that province, the governor and coun- 
cil decreed, that all the lands west of tlie 

7 



98 MEMOIR OF 

said river appertained to New York, libwev= 
er long they miglit have been in possession 
of actual occupants. This was a strange 
doctrine to men, who had paid their money 
for the lands, and by their own toil added 
ten-fold or a hundred-fold to their value ; 
who had felled the forests by the strength of 
their sinews, and submitted for years to all 
the privations and discomforts of the woods- 
man's life. In a tone of just indignation 
they said to these new masters, we will o- 
bey your laws, but you shall not plunder us 
of the substance we have gained by the 
sweat of our brows. The New York gov- 
ernment, however, in conformity with their 
interpretation of the royal decree, proceed- 
ed to grant patents covering the lands on 
which farms had been brought to an ad- 
vanced state of culture, houses built, and 
orchards planted, by the original purchasers 
and settlers. It is true that to all such per- 
sons was granted the privilege of taking out 
new patents, and securing a New York ti- 
tle, by paying the fees and other charges, 
which were greatly enhanced upon those paid 
at first to Governor Wentworth ; that is, in 
other words, they were allowed the right of 
purchasing their own property. This was 
a proposition perfectly comprehensible to 
the most ilhterate husbandman. With a ve- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 99 

rj few exceptions tlicy refused to comply 
■with it, alleging that they had bought their 
lands by a fair purchase, and had a just 
claim to a title, under -whatever jurisdiction 
the King might tliink proper to place them ; 
that it was not their business to interfere 
"with the controversies of the colonies about 
their respective boundaries, but it was their 
duty, and their determination, to retain and 
defend theii' lawful property. The case 
was aggravated by an order of the governor 
and council of New York, calling on all the 
claimants under the New Hampshire grants 
to appear before them, the said governor 
and council, with the deeds, conveyances, 
and other evidences of their claims, vdthin 
three months, and declaring that the claims 
of all persons not presented within that time 
should be rejected. This had no effect up- 
on the settlers, and of course their titles 
were looked upon as forfeited, and the lands 
they occupied as being the property of the 
colony of New York. 

It would seem, that certain speculators 
entered deeply into the affair, influenced 
more by the literal construction or ambigaious 
meaning of charters and royal decrees, than 
l)y the power of the settlers to support their 
claims, or the absolute justice of their cause. 
Uence repeated applications for large grants 



100 MEMOIR OF 

were made to the governor, wliicli lie was 
nowise inclined to refuse, since every new 
patent was attended with a liberal fee to 
himself. Foreseeing the mischiefs, that 
would result to them from this growing com- 
bination of powerful and interested individu- 
ate in ISTew York, the settlers despatched 
one of tlieir number to England as an agent 
in their behalf, instructed to lay their case 
before the King, and petition for relief. 
This mission was successful, so far as to ob- 
tain an order from the King in Council, Ju- 
ly, 1767, commanding the governor of New 
York to abstain from issuing any more pa- 
tents m the disputed territory, " upon pain 
of his Majesty's highest displeasure,'^ till 
the intentions of the King oti the subject 
should furtlier be made known. 

This decision, having only a prospective 
effect, did not annul the grants already be- 
stowed, and the New York patentees resolv- 
ed to gain possession of the lands by^civil pro- 
cess. Writs of ejectment were taken out, 
and served on several actual occupants. In 
a few instances the officers were resisted by 
the people, and prevented from serving the 
writs ; but, for the most part, the New Hamp- 
shire grantees inclined to meet their oppo- 
nents on this ground, and refer the matter 
to a judicial tribunal. Ethan Allen j ha\ing 



ETHAN ALLEN. 101 

already become a leader among them, by his 
zeal in opposing the New York party and by 
the boldness of his character, was appointed 
an agent to manage the concerns of the de- 
fendants before the court at Albany, to 
which the writs of ejectment had been re- 
turned. Ilis first step was to proceed to 
New Hampshire, and obtain cojaes of Gdv- 
crnur AVentworth's commission and instruc- 
tions, by which he was authorized to grant 
the lands. He next went to Connecticut, 
and engaged the services of Mr. Ingcrsoll, 
an eminent counsellor of that day. When 
the time of trial arrived, these gentlemen ap- 
jicared in AH^any, and produced to the court 
tlie above papers, and also the original par 
tents or grants to those persons on whom 
the writs of ejectment had been served. 
These papers Avere at once set aside, as hav- 
ing no weight in the case, since they pre- 
supposed that the boundary of New Hamp- 
shire reached to the west of Connecticut 
River, a point not to be admitted by any 
New York court or jury. The verdict was 
of course given for the plaintiffs. Indeed 
tlie whole process was an idle piece of for- 
mality. It being the theoretical and prac- 
tical doctrine of tlie New York government, 
that all ( Jovemor Wentworth's grants were 
illegal, and many of the judges and lawyers 



1^2 MEMOIR OF 

being personally interested in the subsequent 
New York patents, a decision adverse to 
their declared opinion of the law, and to 
their private interests, was not to be expect- 
ed. This was soon perceived by the peo- 
ple of the New Hampshire Grants, and no 
one of them again appeared in court, though 
sundry other cases of ejectment were brought 
up, and decided against the occupants. As 
all their grants stood on precisely the same 
footing, a precedent in one case would ne- 
cessarily be followed in the other. 

It is recorded, that after Allen retired 
from the court at Albany, two or three gen- 
tlemen interested in the New York grants 
called upon him, one of whom was the King's 
attorney-general for the colony, and advised 
him to go home and persuade his friends of 
the Green Mountains to make the best terms 
they could with their new landlords, intima- 
ting that their cause was now desperate, and 
reminding him of the proverb, that '' might 
of ten prevails against rig! it. '''^ Neither ad- 
miring the delicacy of this sentiment, nor 
intimidated by the threat it held out, Allen 
replied, " The gods of the valleys are not 
the gods of tlie hills.^^ This laconic figure 
of speech he left to be interpreted by his vis- 
itors, adding only, when an explanation was 
asked by the King's attorney, that if he 



ETHAN ALLEN. 103 

■■would accompany liim to Bci. t^ton the 
sense should be made clear. 

The purpose of his mission being thug 
brought to a close, Mr. Allen returned and 
reported the particulars to his constituents. 
The news spread from habitation to habitci- 
tion, and created a sudden and loud mur- 
mur of discontent among tho people. See- 
ing, as they thought, the door of justice shut 
against them, and having tried in vain all 
the peaceable means of securing their rights, 
they resolved to appeal to the last arbiter of 
disputes. The inhabitants of Bennington 
immediately assembled, and came to a form- 
al determination to defend their property by 
force, and to unite in resisting all encroach^ 
ments upon the lands occupied by persons 
holding titles under the warrants granted 
by the Governor of New Hampshire. This 
was a bold step ; but it was promptly taken, 
and with a seeming determination to adliere 
to it at any hazard, and without regard to 
consc(iuenccs. Nor was this decision chang- 
ed or weakened by a proposition on the part 
of the New York patentees, made about tliis 
time, which allowed to each occupant a fee 
simple of liis farm, at the same price for which 
the unoccupied lands in his neighborhood 
were sold. The first purchasers still insisted 
that this was reipiiring them to pay twice 



104 MEMOIR OF 

for their lands, and that in any view the pm- 
posal was not just, inasmuch as the vahie of 
the unoccupied lands depended mainly on 
the settlements, which had been made in 
their vicinity by the toil and at the expense 
of the original occupants. In short, the 
time for talldng about charters and bounda- 
ries, and courts of judicature was past, and 
the mountaineers were now fully bent on con- 
ducting the controversy by a more summary 
process. The wisdom or equity of this deci- 
sion I shall forbear to discuss, and proceed 
to narrate some of its consequences. 

Actions of ejectment continued to be 
brought before the Albany courts ; but the 
settlers, despairing of success after the pre- 
cedents of the first cases, did not appear in 
defence, nor give themselves any more trou- 
ble in the matter. Next came sheriifs and 
civil magistrates to execute the writs of pos- 
session, and by due course of law to remove 
the occupants from the lands. At this cri- 
sis the affair assumed a tangible shape. The 
mountaineers felt themselves at home on the 
soil, which they had subdued by their own 
labor, and in the territory over wliich they 
had begun to exercise supreme dominion, 
by meeting in conventions and committees,, 
and taking counsel of each other on public 
concerns. To drive one of them from Ms. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 105 

house, or deprive him of his hard-earned sub- 
stance, ■s^■a3 to tlireaten the whole communi- 
ty "svith an issue fatal alike to their dearest 
interests, and to the rights, Avhich every man 
deems as sacred as life itself. It Avas no 
wonder, therefore, that they should unite hi 
a common cause, "which it ref|U]Li'ed their 
combined efforts to maintain. 

As it was exf)ected the sheriffs would soon 
make their appearance, precautions were ta- 
ken to watch their motions, and give due 
notice of their approach. In the first in- 
stance, when the sheriff arrived at the house, 
on the owner of Avliich lie was to serve a writ 
of possession, he found it surrounded by a 
body of men, who resisted his attempts, and 
defeated his purpose. Complaints were sent 
to Lord Dunmore, then governor of New 
York, accompanied with the names of the 
loaders of this '' riotous and tumultuous" as- 
semblage ; and the governor forthwith pub- 
lished a proclamation on the 1st day of No- 
vember, 1770, denouncing this presumptu- 
ous act, and commanding the sheriff of Al- 
Itany county to apprehend the offendere, 
whose names had been mentioned, and com- 
mit them to safe custody, that they might 
1)0 l)rought to condign punislmfient ; author- 
izing him to call to his assistance the ^.?os8t? 
eomitatus, or the whole power of the county. 



106 MEMOIR OF 

But proclamations were of as little avail as 
writs of possession ; and tlie sheriif was nev- 
er lucky enough to seize any of the rioters, 
who doubtless had the forethought to keep 
out of his reach. 

The next exploit was at the house of Janies 
Brackenridge, whose farm was within the 
township of Bennington, and on whom the 
sheriif came to serve a writ. The house was 
filled with armed men, who treated this civ- 
il officer with much disrespect, and set his 
authority at naught. A few days after- 
wards he returned with 2bj)osse, such as he 
could collect for the purpose ; but in this in- 
stance he was again repelled by a still more 
numerous party armed with muskets, which 
they presented at the breasts of the sheriff 
and his associates, and exhibited other atti- 
tudes of menace and contempt, against which 
these pacific messengers, armed only with 
the mandates and terrors of the law, did not 
think it prudent to contend. The rioters, 
as they were called, and perhaps by no ve- 
ry forced construction of language, came off 
a second time triumphant ; and thus the bold- 
ness of their resolutions received a new in- 
citement. These examples, however, did 
not deter the c'wil officers from endeavoring 
to discharge their duty. They appeared in 
other places, and in one or two instances 



ETHAN ALLEN. 107 

■with success ; but they could not evade the 
vigilance of the people, who kept a watchful 
eye upon their movements, and who, when 
they caught the intruders, resorted to a 
mode of i)unishment less perilous than that 
with powder and ball, but attended with 
scarcely less indignity, to the unfortunate 
sufferers. This summary process was de- 
nominated chastisement with the tivigs of 
th: wilderness, a phraseology too significant 
to need explanation. 

As open war now existed, and hostilities 
had commenced, the (rreen Moioitain Bof/s^ 
as the belligerents were dcnominated,thought 
it advisable to organize their forces, and 
prepare for the contest, in a manner worthy 
of the cause at stake. In all the feats of 
enterprise and danger, as well as in matters 
of state policy, Ethan Allen had hitherto 
been the chief adviser and actor. It was 
natural, that, in arranging their military es- 
tablishment, the people should look up to 
him as the person best fpialified to be placed 
at its head. He was appointed colonel- 
commandant, with several captains under 
liira, of whom the most noted were Seth 
"Warner and Remember Baker. Commit- 
tees of safety were likewise chosen, and in- 
trusted with powers for regulating local af- 
fairs. Conventions of delegates, represent- 



108 MEMOIR OF 

ing the people, assembled from time to time 
and passed resolves and adopted measures, 
Trliich tended to harmonize their sentiments 
and concentrate their efforts. 

Thus prepared and supported, Colonel 
Allen, with a promptness and activity suited 
to his character, drew out his volunteers in 
larger or smaller numbers, as the exigency 
of the case required, and either in person, 
or by the agency of his captains, presented 
a formidable force to the sheriffs and consta- 
])lcs wherever they appeared within the lim- 
its of the ISTew Hampshire Grants. The 
convention had decreed, that no officer from 
New York should attempt to take any per- 
Bon out of their territory on the penalty of a 
Revere punishment ; and it was also forbid- 
den, that any surveyor should presume to 
run lines through the lands, or inspect them 
with that intention. This edict enlarged the 
powers of the military commanders ; for it 
was their duty to search out such intruders, 
and chastise them according to the nature 
of their offence. A few stragghng settlere, 
claiming titles under New York grants, had 
ventured over the line of demarkation. 
These were forcibly dispossessed by detach- 
ments of Colonel Allen's men, frequently 
led on by him in person. The sheriffs and 
their ^osse comitatus continued to be pursu- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 109 

cd witli unremitting eagerness, whenever 
tliey dared to set their feet on the forbidden 
ground. With these various aftairs on his 
hands, it will readily be imagined that the 
commander of the Green jNlountain Boys 
was not idle ; nor was it surprising, that he 
sliould attract the particular notice of the 
New York government. So many com- 
plaints were made of the riotous and disor- 
derly proceedings of his volunteers and as- 
sociates, such was the indignation of the 
New York party on account of the harsh 
measures adopted by them towards the per- 
sons whom they seized as trespassers upon 
their property, and so entirely did they set 
at defiance the laws of New Y^ork, to which 
their opponents accounted them amenable, 
tliat the governor was tempted to try the 
virtue of another proclamation, in which he 
branded the deed of dispossessing a New 
York settler with the approbrious name of 
felony, and offered a reward of twenty 
pounds to any person, who would apprehend 
and secure Allen, or either of eight other 
persons connected with him, and mentioned . 
by name. 

Whether this proclamation was thought 
too mild in its terms, or whether new outra- 
ges had added to the enoimity of the oftencc, 
it is not easy to decide ; but another was 



110 MEMOIR OP 

promulgated, enlarging the bounty for Allen 
to one hundred and fifty pounds, and for 
Seth Warner and five others to fifty pounds 
each. Not to be outdone by the author- 
ity of New York in exercising the prerog- 
atives of sovereignty, Colonel Allen and 
his friends sent out a counter proclamation, 
offering a reward of five pounds to any per- 
son, who would take and dehver the attor- 
ney-general of that colony to any officer in 
the military association of the Green Moun- 
tain Boys ; the said attorney having render- 
ed himself particularly obnoxious to the set- 
^tlers, by the zeal andpertinacityTnth which 
he had entered into the contest against 
them.* Notwithstanding the frequency of 
proclamations, it is believed that no person 
was apprehended in consequence of them, 
wMch is a proof that the people of the parts 
of New York adjoining the New Hampshire 
Grants were more favorable to the settlers, 
than vfere prominent men of the colony ; 
otherwise the allurement of the reward 
would have induced combinations for seizing 
individual offenders, particularly as the peo- 
ple were required by law to assist the sher- . 
iff in the execution of his office. Allen 
never denied, that the conduct of himself and; 
his momitaineers, interpreted by the laws of 

* Ira Allen's History of Vermont, p. 29. 



ETHAN ALLEX. Ill 

New York, or the laws of any well ordered 
society, was properly called riotous ; but ho 
contended, that they were driven to this ex- 
tremity by the oppression of their stronger 
neighbors, that no other means were left by 
which they could defend their property, and 
that under such circumstances they were 
perfectly justified in resorting to these means. 
They encroached not upon the possessions 
of other people, they remained on their own 
soil, and, if riots existed, they were caused 
by those who came among them for molest- 
ation and injury. A^iewmg things in this 
light, he thought it hard, and with reason, 
that ho should first be called a rioter, then 
a crimhial rioter, and last of all be denounc- 
ed to the world as a felon, with a price set 
upon his liberty, and threats of condign pun- 
ishment if he should be taken. 

But he was equally regardless of threats, 
and faithful in executing the charge reposed 
in him by his associates. Affairs had now 
been brought to such a stage, that it was 
the fixed determination of the settlers at all 
hazards to maintain their ground by expel- 
ling every person, who should presume to 
approach their territory under the auspices of 
the New York claimants. An hicident oc- 
curred, which indicated the temper andspir-- 
it of the people. News came to Eenning- 



112 MEMOIR OF 

ton, that Governor Trjon was ascending tli^ 
North River with a body of British troops, 
who were on their way to subdue the refrac- 
tory Green Mountain Boys, and to quell the 
disputes by an overwhelming force. This 
report at first produced alarm. The Com- 
mittee of Safety and the military officers 
held a consultation. Their perilous situation -^ 
was viewed in all its aspects, and it was fi- 
nally resolved, that, considering the mea- 
sures they had already pursued, and that 
their vital interests required a perseverance 
in the same, " it was their duty to oppose 
Governor Tryon and his troops to the utmost 
of their power." They immediately pro- 
ceeded to devise a plan of operations, by 
which a few sharp-shooters were to be sta- 
tioned in a narrow pass on the road leading 
to Bemiington, who were to lie concealed 
and shoot down the officers as they approach- 
ed with tlie troops. These same marl^sman 
were then to hasten forward through the 
woods, and join another party of their com- 
rades at a similar position, where they were 
to exercise their unerring skill -with their ri- 
fles, and then retreat to the main body, who 
would be prepared to receive the invading 
ti^oops, much disordered and dispirited as it 
was supposed they would be by the loss of 
officers. Colonel Allen despatched a trusty 



ETHAN ALLEN. 113 

person to Albany, "with instructions' to await 
the arrival of Governor Tryon's army, to 
take particular note of the officers, that he 
might know them again, and to ascertain all 
that he could as to the numbers of the ene- 
m}^ the time of marching, and other useful 
intelligence. The messenger returned with 
the information, that the troops were wind- 
bound down the river, that they were des- 
tined for the posts on the Lakes, and had 
no designs upon Bennington. Although the 
people were thus relieved from the necessi- 
ty of putting their valor to the test, yet their 
prompt and bold preparation for the onset 
was a pledge, that in no event could it have 
terminated to their dishonor. 

Affairs were proceeding in this train of 
civil commotion and active hostilities, when 
Governor Tryon, in a spirit of candor and 
forbearance hardly to have been expected at 
that crisis, wrote a letter to the inhabitants 
of Bennington and the adjacent country, dat- 
ed on the 10th of May, 1TT2, censuring the 
illegality and violence of their conduct, but 
at the same time expressing a desire to do 
them justice, and inviting them to send a 
deputation of such persons as they might 
choose, who should lay before him a full 
state of their grievances, and the causes of 
their complaints. To any deputies thus sent 

8 



114 MEMOIR 01? 

be promised security andprotection, except 
ing Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and three 
others, who had been named m his proclama- 
tion as offenders against the laws, and for ap- 
prehending whom a reward had been offered. 
On receiving this letter the people of Ben- 
nington and the neighboring towns assem- 
bled bj their committees, took the subject in- 
to consideration, and without delay acceded 
to the proposal. They appointed two dele- 
gates, Stephen 'Fiij and Jonas Fay, to re- 
pair to New York, and wrote a letter in an- 
swer to ^Governor Tryon's, briefly setting 
forth the grounds of their discontent and the 
reasons of their conduct, and referring to 
their agents for particular explanations. 
From the style and tone of the letter, it was 
obviously penned by Ethan Allen. 

Neither v/as the opportunity^ to be passed 
over, by Allen, and his,,- proscribed friends, 
of vindicating themselves against the asper- 
sions cast upon them by their enemies, and 
the stigma of being pointed out to the world 
as rioters, abettors of mobs, and felons. — 
They sent a joint despatch to Governor Try- 
on, in the nature of a protest against the 
treatment they had received, and in justifi- 
cation of their motives and acts. Allen was 
again the penman for his brethren, and con- 
sidering their provocations^ and the degree 



ETHAN ALLrX. 115 

of excitement to -svliicli tlioy had been wrought 
up, their remonstrance was clothed in Uui- 
guagc sufficiently respectful, breathing tho 
spirit of men conscious of their dignity, and 
resolute in the defence of their rights, but 
ready to meet the awards of justice and a- 
bide by the decision of a fair and impartial 
tribunal. Some of their arguments arc put 
in a forcible manner. " If wc do not op- 
pose the sheriff and hisj;osse," say they, 
** he takes immediate possession of our houses 
and farms ; and when others oppose officers 
in taking their friends so indicted, they are 
also indicted, and so on, there being no end 
of indictment against us so long as we act 
the bold and manly part and stand by our 
liberty. And it comes to this at last, that 
we must tamely be dispossessed, or oppose 
officers in taking possession, and, as a next 
necessary step, to Appose tho taldng of riot- 
ers, so called, or run away like so many cow- 
ards and quit the country to a number of 
cringing, polite gentlemen, who have ideal- 
ly possessed themselves of it already." 

Again ; " Though they stylp us rioters 
for oiiposing them, and seek to catch and 
punish us as such, yet in reality tliemselves 
are the rioters, the tumultuous, disorderly, 
stimulating faction, or in fine the land-jol> 
bers ; and every violent act they have done 



116 MEMOm OF 

to compass tlieir designs, though ever so 
much under pretence of law, is in reality a 
violation of law, and an insult to the consti- 
tution and authority of the Crown, as well 
as to many of us in person, who have been 
great sufferers by such inhuman exertions of 
pretended law. Right and wrong are eter- 
nally the same to all periods of time, places, 
and nations ; and coloring a crime with a 
specious pretence of law only adds to the 
criminality of it, for it subverts the very de- 
sign of law, prostituting it to the vilest pur- 
poses."* 

These statements embraced the substance 
of their defence, considered in its theory and 
principles, although they were strengthened 
by a series of collateral facts and a combi- 
nation of particulars, which were all made 
to assume a bearing favorable to the gener- 
al cause. Governor Try on received the 
deputies with affability and kindness, list- 
ened to their representations, and laid the 
matter of their grievances before his coun- 
cil. After due deliberation the council re- 
ported to the governor, that they wished him 
to give the people of the New Hampshire 
Grants all the rehef in his power, and re- 
commended that the prosecutions, on ac. 

* Ethan Allen's Brief Narrative of the Proceedings of 
the Government o/Nciv York,^x. pp. 58, 62. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 117 

c Hint of crimes mi\\ -wliich tliey were charg- 
ed, should cease till his ]\Iajesty's pleasure 
could be ascertained, and that the New York 
grantees should be requested till such time 
to put a stop to civil suits respecting the 
lands in controversy. This vote of the coun- 
cil was approved by the governor, and with 
this intelligence the deputies hastened back 
to their constituents, who hailed them as 
the messengers of peace and joy. Tho}^ had 
never asked for more than was implied by 
these terms, being well persuaded, that, how- 
ever the questionof jurisdiction might be set- 
tled, the King would never sanction a course 
of proceeding, which should deprive them of 
their property. The impulse of gladness 
spread quickly to the cabins of the remotest 
settlers ; a meeting of the people was called 
at Bennington, where a large concourse as- 
sembled ; the minutes of the council and the 
governor's approval were read, and applaud- 
ed with loud acclamations, and for the mo- 
ment the memory of all former griefs was 
swept away in tlie overflowing tide of enthu- 
siasm for Governor Tryon. The single can- 
non, constituting the whole artillery of Colo- 
nel Allen's regiment, was drawn out and dis- 
charged several times iu honor of the occa- 
sion ; and Captain Warner's company of 
Green Mountain Boys, paraded in battle ar- 



118 MEMOIR OF 

ray, fired three volleys with small arms ; the 
surrounding multiudes at the same time an- 
swering each discharge with huzzas, and ev- 
ery demonstration of delight. It v>^as ac- 
counted a day of triumph to the heroes of 
Bennington, and a harbinger of tranquillity 
to the settlers, who had hitherto been har- 
assed by the incessant tumults of the pres- 
ent, or the vexatious uncertainty of the fu- 
ture. 

But unluckily this season of rejoicing was 
of short duration. It was indeed premature; 
for although the terms brought back by the 
commissioners held out an appearance of re- 
conciliation, yet the seeds of miscliicf were 
not eradicated, and they immediately began 
to spring up with their former vigor. The 
conciliatory resolve of the governor and coun- 
cil moreover contained an ambiguity, which 
seemed at first to escape the notice of the 
people, in the excess of their hilarity. The 
JSTew York grantees were desired to cease 
from prosecuting any more civil suits, till 
the King's pleasure should be known ; but 
nothing was said about putting in execution 
the suits already decided in their favor, and 
no prohibition intimated against their taking 
possession of lands claimed in consequence 
of such decisions, or sending surveyors to 
fix boundaries and localities. Hence it is 



ETHAN ALLEN. 119 

obvious, that all tlic actual sources of dis- 
sension aiid tumult remained in tlieir full 
force. 

It was unfortunate, that an example occur- 
red -while the nei^otiation was pending. Soon 
after the commissioners set oft' for New York, 
intelligence was brought to Benningtonjthat 
a noted surveyor, emplo3-ed by the New 
York claimants, had found his way into some 
of the border townships, and was busy in run- 
ning out lands. A small party rallied, with 
Colonel Allen at their head, went in pursuit 
of the surve3"or, fell upon his track in the 
Tvoods, overtook and seized him, intending 
to punish him in a manner suited to their 
ideas of the audaciousness of his offence. 
They broke his instruments, examined and 
tried him before a court or2;anized accord- 
ing to their manner, found him guilty, and 
passed sentence of banishment, threatening 
the penalty of d(^th, should he ever again 
be caught within the limits of the interdict- 
ed territory. At this juncture they heard 
of the success of the mission to New York, 
wliich occasioned them to dismiss the sur- 
veyor without personal injury, and to re- 
scind their hai*sh sentence. 

During this expedition Colonel Allen and 
Lis party also di^; I the tenants of an 

intruder, near tli ■ j.m ■ i.h of Otter Creek, 



120 IVIEMOIR OF 

•where, under the shield of a New York ti- 
tle, he had taken a saw-mill and other prop- 
erty from the original settlers, and appro- 
priated them to liimself, adding tenements 
and improvements for his laborers. Colo- 
nel Allen expelled the tenants, burnt their 
habitations, restored the saw-mill to its first 
owner, and broke the millstones of a grist- 
mill, which he could not burn without en- 
dangering the saw-milL 

The fame of these exploits travelled with 
speed to New York, and kindled the anger 
of Governor Try on and the members of his 
council. The Governor wrote a letter of 
sharp rebuke to the inhabitants of the Grants, 
complaining of this conduct as an insult to 
government, and a violation of public faith. 
This letter was taken into consideration by 
the committees of several townships assem- 
bled at Manchester, who voted to return an 
answer, w^hich was drafted by Ethan Allen, 
secretary to the convention. In regard to 
the prominent points, Mr. Allen argued in 
behalf of his associates, that the public faith 
was not phghtedontheir part, till after the rat- 
ification at Bennington of the terms brought 
back by their commissioners, and that the 
transactions so severely censured took place 
previously to that event. If there was any 
breach of faith in the case, it was declared 



ETH^VN ALLEX. 121 

to have been on tlie part of tlio land-jobbers 
in New York, who sent a surveyor into the 
disputed domain, ^Yhilc the commissioners 
were negotiathig for a reconcilement of dif- 
ferences. As to putting the intruders at 
Otter Creek again into possession, which the 
governor had demanded in a somewhat per- 
emptory manner, they declined doing it, as- 
signing as a reason tliat those persons were 
justly removed, and that the governor could 
not fail to be of the same opinion when duly 
hifurmed of facts. The assembled commit- 
tees moreover declared cx])licitly, that, by 
the terms of reconciliation, they did not ex- 
pect any settlements or locations would bo 
attempted on the lands in question, till his 
Majesty's pleasure should be known. If 
sucli were not the meaning and intent of the 
governor, in the proposal he had sent by the 
commissioners, tlien theii' act of ratification 
was a nullity. 

To put the matter on this footing was at 
once to revive all the okl difficulties ; for the 
governor had no power to stop the course of 
law, by prohibiting those persons from tar 
kiivj^ possession of their lands, who had been 
confirmed in their claims by the regular de- 
cisions of the courts. All such claimants, 
and agents acting in their behalf, the settlers 
had determined to resist bv force, and had 



122 MEMOIR OF 

given practical proofs of their resolution, 
which were not to be mistaken. Thej had 
also resolved to pursue, expel, or otherwise 
punish an}^ person within the disputed dis- 
trict, Yfho should presume to accept an office 
civil or military under the authority of New 
York. Like the tories of the Kevoliition, 
these people were considered as the worst 
kind of enemies, and treated with uncom- 
mon severity. In an unlucky hour, two or 
three of them accepted from Governor Try- 
on commissions of justices of the jjeace, and 
had the hardihood to act in their ofhcial dig- 
nitv. The indignation and wrath of the 
Green Mountain Boys were roused. In one 
instance the unhappy delinquent was brought 
before the Conmiittee of Safetj^, where the 
resolve of the convention was read to him, 
forbidding any one in the territory to hold 
an office under the colony of New York ; 
and then judgment was pronounced against 
him, in the presence of many persons, by 
which he was sentenced to be tied to a tree, 
and chastised " with the twigs of the wilder- 
ncs" on his naked back, to the number of 
two hundred stripes, and immediately ex- 
]ielled from the district, and threatened with 
iieathifhe should return, unless specially 
■permitted by the Convention. 

Ill the midst of these rigors, the mode of 



ETHAN ALLEN. 123 

f ■ :ii; vras sometimes rather ludicrous 

ti; re. In tiic town of Arliuii;toii lived 

a , who openly professed himself a par- 

-tiftuii ui" x-i^ew York, and Avas accustomed to 
bp ■ ''-respectfully of the convention and 
f"' .'S, espousing the cause of the New 

■»rk claimants, and advising people to pur- 
c*.ase lands under their title. He was ad- 
monished hy his neighbors, and made to un- 
derstand, that this tone of conversation was 
not acceptable, and was recpiested to change 
it, or at least to show his prudence by re- 
maining silent. Far from operating any re- 
form, these hints only stirred up the ire of 
the courageous doctor, -Nvho fortlnvith armed 
liimself with pistols and other weapons of de- 
fence, proclaiming his sentiments more bold- 
ly than ever, setting opposition at defiance, 
and thrcateninui; to trv the full effects of his 
jjersonal prowess and implements of warfare 
on any man, who should have the temerity 
to approach him with un unfriendly design. 
Such a boast was likely to call up the mar- 
tial sjiirit of his opponents, who accordingly 
came upon the doctor at an unguarded mo- 
ment, and obliged him to surrender at dis- 
cretion, lie was thence transferred to the 
Green Mountain Tavern, in Bennington, 
tshcre he was arraigned before the commit- 
tee, who, not salisiicd with his defence, sen- 



124 MEMOIR OF 

tenced him to a novel punishment, which 
thej ordered to be put in immediate execu- 
tion. 

Before the door of tliis tavern, which serv- 
ed the double purpose of a court-house and 
an inn, stood a sign-post twenty-five feet high, 
and the top of which was adorned with the 
skin of a catamount, stuffed to the size of 
life, with its head turned towards New York, 
and its jaws distended, showing large naked 
teeth, and grinning terror to all who should 
approach from that quarter. It was the 
judgment of the court, that the contumacious 
doctor should be tied in a chair, and drawn 
up by a rope to the catamount, where he 
was to remain suspended two hours ; which 
punishment was inilicted, in the presence of 
a numerous assemblage of people, much to 
their satisfaction and merriment. The doc- 
tor was then let down, and permitted to de- 
part to his own house. 

On two or three occasions Colonel Allen 
was near being taken, in consequence of the 
rewards offered for him in the governor's 
proclamations. When he made excursions 
abroad, whether for mihtary or other pur- 
poses, he commonly went armed with a mus- 
ket and a brace of pistols. Being on a tour 
to the north, in company with a single friend, 
he one evening entered a house not many 



\ 



ETHAN ALLEN. 125 

miles from Crown Point, in -wlilcli, to liissur- 
}>n.so and after it was too late to retreat, ho 
found there were two sergeants and ten 
men. lie was known to the sergeants, and 
soon had reason to suspect, that thej intend- 
ed to seize him. Putting the best face up- 
on the matter, however, and conceahng his 
suspicions, he called for supper, conversed 
in great good humor with the sergeants, ask- 
ed them to drink with him, and the evening 
passed away merrily till bed-time. It then 
appeared, that there were no spare Ijcds in 
the house, as they had allbeen taken by tho 
first comers ; but these persons very civilly 
proposed to yield their claims to Colonel Al- 
ien, and pressed him with a show of earnest- 
ness to accept their oflcr. He declined it, 
with thanks for their courtesy, declaring that 
he could not think of depriving them of their 
rest merely for his personal accommodation, 
and that, as the weather was warm, he and 
his companion would seek lodgings in tho 
bam. To hi'lc their real design they left 
their guns behind. The sergeants accom- 
]ianied them to the bam, saw them safely in 
their quarters, wished them a good night's 
repo.^e, and returned to the house. By a 
previous concert, a j'oung girl in the family 
took the first opportunity unseen to carry 
the guna to the barn. The sergeants wait- 



12i> MEMOIR- OF 

ed till they supposed tlie two travellers were 
asleep, and that there would be no danger 
from their pistols, and then stole softly out, 
flushed with the prospect of speedily entrap- 
ping the renowned leader of the Green Moun- 
tain ^Boys. But their imaginary victory 
ended in disa})pointment. Colonel Allen, 
having succeeded in his scheme of deceiv- 
ing his pursuers, had arisen and departed, 
and the night screened him from the search. 

At another time, while he was on a visit 
to his brother in Sahsbury, Connecticut, a 
plot w^as laid by several persons, residing be- 
tween that place and Hudson's Biver, to 
come upon him by surprise, seize, and car- 
ry him to Poughkeepsie jail. This plot was 
accidentally discovered in time to defeat the 
designs of the conspirators. 

Meantime the spirit of hostility between 
the two parties continued to increase, the 
New York claimants being resolved to en- 
force their claims by all the power they could 
put in action, and the original settlers e- 
qually determined to resist aggression by ev- 
ery species of force, which they could wield. 
Hence commotions, riots, mobs, and blood- 
shed were common occurrences, though the- 
settlers adhered strictly to their declared 
principle of acting on the defensive, never 
pursuing oiFenders beyond their own do- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 127 

main, but showing little mercy to those, who 
dared to violate their decrees, question their 
authority, and above all to step over the line 
of demarkation as the agents of their ene- 
mies. At last the New York grantees, dis- 
couraged with this mode of conducting so 
fruitless a contest, combined their influence, 
and applied to the Assembly of that prov- 
ince for legislative aid. The result was a 
law, purporting to be an act for preventing 
tunuiltu'jus and riotous assemblies, and pun- 
ishing rioters, which may safely be pronounc- 
ed the most extraordinary specimen of legis- 
lative despotism, that has ever found a place 
in a statute-book. After naming Ethan Al- 
len, Seth Warner, Remember JJaker, and 
several others, as the principal ringleaders 
in the riots, the laAV empowers the governor 
and council to send out an order, requiring 
tlioso persons, or any others indicted for oi- 
fences, to surrender themselves for commit- 
ment to one of his Majesty's justices of the 
peace within seventy days from the date of 
the order; and in case the summons should 
not bo obeyed, the person neglecting to sur- 
render h'imself was to be adjudged and 
deemed as convicted, and to suiier death if 
indicted for a capital ofience ; and moreover 
the Supreme Court was authorized to award 
execution, in the same manner as if there 



128 MEMOIR OF 

had been an actual trial, proof of guilt, and 
a judicial sentence.* 

On the same day that this law was enact> 
ed, the governor sent out another proclama- 
tion, offering a reward for apprehending and 
imprisoning Ethan Allen and seven of his 
associates, as if never tired of exercising 
this prerogative of his oflSce, although hith- 
erto without the least shadow of success. 
The object of the law and of the proclama- 
tion was to draw from their strong-holds the 
principal rioters, as they were called, and 
inflict upon them such punishments as would 
quell their opposition, and dishearten their 
followers. The effect was far otherwise. 
The committees of the several townships as- 
sembled in convention, and took up the sub- 
ject with more calmness, than could have 
been anticipated under circumstances so ir- 
ritating. They reviewed the causes of the 
controversy, asserted anew their rights, af- 
firmed that they were not the aggressors, 
that all the violence to which they had been 
accessory was fully justified by the laws of 
self-preservation, and that they were deter- 
mined to ma intain the ground they had ta- 

* This act, certainly one of the most curious in the 
annals of legislation, was passed on the 9th of Marcli, 
1774, and may be seen in Ethan Allen's Narrative of 
the Proceedings of the Government of Neio York, ^c.,p. 
23. And also inSlade's Vermont State Papers, p. 42. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 129 

ken, •^itliout fear or favor, at every liazard 
and every sacnficc. They closed their pub- 
lic proceedings by a resolve, that all neces- 
sary preparations should bo made, and that 
the inhabitants should hold themselves in 
readiness at a minute's -warning to defend 
those among them, " who, for their merit in 
the great and general cause, had been false- 
ly denominated rioters ;" declaring at the 
sam« time, that they would act on-ly on the 
defensive, and that in all civil cases, and 
criminal prosecutions really such, they would 
assist the proper oiiicers to enforce the exe- 
cution of the laws. 

In addition to tlicso public doings of the 
people at large by their representatives, the 
proscribed persons, at the headof^shom was 
Ethan Allen, published a manifesto, to which 
they jointly affixed their names, containing 
a defence of themselves and free remarks on 
the New York act and proclamation. To 
look for moderation as a shining quality in a 
paper of this kind, is perhaps more than 
would bo authorized by the nature of the 
case, or the character of the individuals 
concerned ; yet it expresses sentiments, 
which we should be sorry not to find in men, 
whom wo would respect, and in whom we 
would confide in the hour of peril. It speaks 
in a tone of deep complaint of the injuries 



180 MEMOIR OF 

they have suffered from tlie vindictive per- 
secutions of their enemies, protests against 
the tyrannical abuse of power, which would 
arraign them as criminals for protecting 
their own property, and threatens retaha- 
tion upon all, who should attempt to put in 
execution against them the sanguinary e- 
dict, of the New York Assembly. But in 
the midst of the sea of dangers, with which 
they seemed to be surrounded, they braced 
themselves up with the consolatory reflec- 
tion, " that printed sentences of death wiU 
not kill us ; and if the executioners approach 
us, they will be as likely to fall victims to 
death as we." They furthermore proclaim- 
ed that, should any person be tempted, by 
the "wages of unrighteousness offered in the 
proclamation,'* to apprehend any of them 
or their friends, it was their deliberate pur- 
pose to inflict immediate death upon so rash 
and guilty an offender. 

To this pitch of legalized infatuation on 
the one part, and of animosity and violence 
on the other, had the controversy attained 
by imbibing new ahment at every stage, 
when it was suddenly arrested by events of 
vastly greater moment, wliich drew away 
the attention of the political leaders in New 
York from these border feuds to affairs of 
more vital interest. The revolutionarj^, 



ETHAN ALLEN. 131 

struggle Tva3 on the eve of breaking out, and 
the ferment, whieh had ah'eady begun to ag- 
itate the pubhc mind from one end of the 
continent to the other, was not less active in 
New York than in other places. From this 
tune, therefore, the Green Mountain settlers 
were permitted to remain in comparative 
tranquillity. Several years elapsed, it is 
true, before they released themselves entire- 
ly from the claims of their neighbors, and 
established their independence on an undis- 
puted ])asis ; yet they always acted as an ui- 
dependcnt community, assumed and exer- 
cised the powers of a sepai'ate body politic, 
and secured at last, to the fullest extent, 
tlieir original demands and pretensions. E- 
than Allen had a large share in bringing the 
contest to its happy termination ; but before 
wo proceed any further with this subject, it 
is neccss^ary to follow him through a difibr- 
ent career, and trace the series of mcidonts, 
which befell him in the war of the Revolu- 
tion. 

At this point in our narrative, it is prop- 
er to turn our attention for a moment to a 
literary performance by Ethan Allen, which 
had some influence in its dav, and which is 
still valuable for the historical matter it em- 
bodies. Having zealously embarked in the 
cause of the Green IMountain Boys, to which 



132 MEMOIK OP 

he was prompted botli by interest and ambi- 
tion, he applied his vigorous mind to a thor- 
ough investigation of the subject. He pur- 
sued his researches into the ancient char- 
ters, followed out their bearings upon each 
other in regard to boundary lines, studied 
the history of the colonies, and thus collect- 
ed a mass of authentic materials, which, 
with an account of recent events known to 
him personally, he compiled into a volume 
extending to more than two hundred pages. 
He, who in this work shall expect to find 
flowers of rhetoric, or a polished diction, or 
models of grammatical accuracy, or the art 
of a practised writer, will be disappointed ; 
but, clothed in the garb of an unformed style 
and confused method, there are many sagar 
cious remarks and pertinent expressions, 
many strong points of argument stated with 
force, if not with elegance, many evidences 
of a mind accustomed to observe and think, 
draw its own inferences, and utter its senti- 
ments witli a fearless reliance on its own re- 
sources and guidance.* 

'■"^ The work is entitled A Brief Narrative of the Pro- 
ceedinqsoftlie Government of New York, ^-c,, printed at 
Hartford, 1774. The supplementary part contains a 
ACply to apamplilet publislied a short time before in 
Nev/ Yorl:,by authority, entitled A Stats of the Right 
of thi Colony of New York, vjitlt Respect to ils Eastern 
Boundari/, ^-c. Jt is hardly necessary to observe, that 



ETHAN ALLEN. 133 

Early in the year 1775, as soon as it was 
made manifest by the attitude assumed on 
the part of the l^ritish government agaitist 
the colonics, and by the conduct of General 
Gage in Boston, that open hostihties must 
inevitably commence in a short time, it be- 
gan to be secretly Avhispered among the prin- 
cipal politicians in New England, that the 
capture of Tieonderoga was an object de- 
manding the first attention. In the month 
of March, Samuel Adams and Dr. Joseph 
Warren, as members of the Committee of 
Correspondence in Boston, sent an agent 
privately into Canada, en a political mission, 
Avith instructions to ascertain the feelings of 
the people there m regard to the approacli- 
ing contest, and to make such reports as his 
observations should warrant. Faithful to his 
charge, a.nd \'igilant in his inquiries, this a- 
gent sent back intelligence from Montreal, 
and among other tilings advised, that by all 
means the crarrisonof Ticonderoi^a should be 
seized as quickly as possible after the break- 
ing out of hostilities, adding that the people 
of the New ITam] shire Grants had already 
agreed to undertake the task, and that they 

the pnrticnlars of the present memoir have thus far been 
chiefly derived from these two puMications •, to which 
mav be added Ira Allen's History of Vermont. 



134 MEMOIR OF 

were the most proper persons to be employ- 
ed in it. 

This hint was given three weeks anterior 
to the battle of Lexington, and how far it in- 
fluenced future designs may not be known ; 
but it is certain, that, eight days after that 
event, several gentlemen at that time at- 
tending the Assembly in Hartford, Con- 
necticut, concerted a plan for surprising Ti- 
conderoga, and seizing the cannon in that 
fortress, for the use of the army, then march- 
ing from all quarters to the environs of Bos- 
ton. Although these gentlemen were mem- 
bers of the Assembly, yet the scheme was 
wholly of a private nature, without any o- 
vert sanction from the authority of the colo- 
ny. A committee was appointed, at the 
head of which were Edward Mott and No- 
ah Phelps, with instructions to proceed to 
the frontier towns, inquire into the state, of 
the garrison, and, should they think proper, 
to raise men and take possession of the same. 
To aid the project, one thousand dollars were 
obtained from the treasury as a loan, for 
which security was given. 

On their way the committee collected six- 
teen men in Connecticut, and went forward 
to Pittsfield, in Massachusetts, where they 
laid open their plan to Colonel Easton and 
Mr. John Brown, who agreed to join them. 



ETHAN ALLEl?. 135 

and tlicy proceeded in company to Benning- 
ton. Colonel Easton, being in command of 
a regiment of militia, proposed to engage 
some of them in tlio expedition, and enlist- 
ed vol mite ers as lie passed along, between 
forty and fifty of \Yhom reached Bennington 
the next day. As no time was to bo lost, a 
council of war was immediately called, in 
which it was voted that Colonel Ethan Al- 
len should send out parties to the north- 
ward, secure the roads, and prevent intelU- 
gence from passing in that direction. This 
was accordingly done. Colonel Allen'j^ 
Green ^lountain Boys having been collected 
as speedily as possible, the little army march- 
ed, and arrived at Castleton on the evening 
of tlio 7th of May. 

Here another council of war was held, 
and Ethan Allen was appointed the com- 
mander of the expedition, James Easton tho 
second in command, and Seth Warner the 
third. Being thus organized they proceed- 
ed to fix a plan of operations. It was deci- 
ded that Colonel Allen and the principal of- 
ficers, with the main body of their forces, 
consisting of about one hundred and forty 
men, should march directly to Shoreham, 
opposite to Ticonderoga. A party of thir- 
ty men, commanded by Captain Ilerrick, 
vwas at the same tunc to move upon Skencs- 



136 MiaiOIR OF 

borough, take Major Skene* and Lis people 
into custody, seize all the boats that could 
be found there, and hasten -with them down 
the Lake to meet Colonel Allen at Shore- 
ham. Captain Douglass was also despatch- 
ed to Panton, beyond Crown Point, in search 
of boats, which were to be brought to Shore- 
liam, as it was supposed the boats at that 
place would be inadequate to the transport- 
ation of the troops across the Lake, 

The position now occupied was nine miles 
from Skenesborough, and twenty-five from 
Ticonderoga by the route to be traversed. 
Just as these arrangements were settled, 
the men selected for each party, and the 
whole prepared to march. Colonel Arnold ar- 
rived from Massachusetts, having been com- 
missioned by the Committee of Safety of 
that colony, without any knowledge of what 
had been done in Connecticut, to raise men 
and proceed on the same enterprise. He 
brought no men with him, but had agreed 
wdth officers in Stockbridge to enlist and 
send forward such as could be obtained, ma- 
king all haste himself to join the expedition, 
which he did not hear was on foot till he 
came to that town. A difficulty now arose, 

*Th6 son of Governor Skene, who w^qs likewise 
called Major Skene, and who was at this time absent in 

England. 



EXnAN ALLEX. 13T 

^'hich tlii'catcncd for tlic moment to defeat 
the -vvliolc scheme. Arnold claimed the com- 
mand of all the troops, bj virtue of his com- 
mission from the Massachusetts Committeo 
of Safety, averring that this was a superior 
apponitment to that of any other ofKcer con- 
cerned, and demanding the preference as 
his right. The rumor soon got to the ears 
of the soldiers, ^Yho broke out into vehe- 
ment clamors, and -were on the point of mu- 
tiny, declaring that they would serve under 
no officers except those with wliom they had 
engaged, and that they would club their 
muskets and march home. The flame was. 
quenched hy the prudent conduct of Colo- 
nels Allen and Easton : and when Arnold 
discovered, that his pretensions met with no 
favor eitlier from the men or their leaders, 
he yielded to necessity' and agreed to unite 
with them asTl volunteer. 

The march was pursued according to the 
original plan, and Colonel Allen arrived 
without molestation on the shore of tin.' 
Lake opposite to Ticonderoga. It was im- 
portant to have a guide, who was aci^uaint- 
cd with t!ie grounds around the fortressy 
and the jdaces of access. Allen made in- 
(juirics as to those points of ^Ir. l>oman. a 
farmer residing near the Lake in Shoreham. 
who answered, that he seldom crossed to Ti- 



138 MEMOIR OF 

conderoga, and was little acquainted witli 
the particulars of its situation ; but that his 
son Nathan, a young lad, passed much jof 
liis time there in company -with the boys of 
the garrison. Nathan was called, and ap- 
peared by his answers to be familiar with ev- 
ery nook in the fort, and every passage and 
by-path by which it could be approached. 
In the eye of Colonel Allen he was the ve- 
ry person to thread out the best avenue ; 
and by the consent of the father and a little 
persuasion Nathan Beman was engaged to 
be the guide of the party. The next step 
v/as to procure boats, which were very defi- 
cient in number, as neither Captain Herrick 
nor Captain Douglass liad sent any from 
Skenesborough or Panton. Eighty three 
men only had crossed, when the day began 
to dawn ; and while the boats were sent back 
for the rear division. Colonel Allen resolved 
to move immediately against the fort. 

He drey/ up his men in three ranks, ad- 
dressed them in a short harangue, ordered 
them to face to the right, and placing him- 
self at the head of tlio middle file, led 
them silently but with a quick step up 
the heights on which the fortress stood, and 
before the sun rose, he had entered the gate 
and formed his men on the parade between 
the barracks. Here they gave three huz- 



ETHAlSr ALLEN. 1S9 

zas, wliicli aroused the sleeping inmates. 
When Colonel Allen passed the gate, a sen- 
tinel snapped his fusee at him, and then re- 
treated under a covered way. Another 
sentinel made a thrust at an officer ^vith a 
bayonet, -Nvliich slightly wounded him. Co- 
lonel Allen returned the comjiliment with a 
cut on the side of the soldier's head, at which 
he threw down his musket and asked quar- 
ter. No more resistance was made. Al- 
len demanded to be shown to the apartment 
of Captain Delaplace, the commandant of 
the garrison. It was pointed out, and Col- 
onel Allen, with Nathan Beraan at his elbow, 
who knew the way, hastily ascended the 
stairs, which were attached to the outside of 
the barracks, and calleil out with a voice of 
thunder at the door, ordering the astonished 
captain instantly to appear, or the whole 
garrison should be sacrificed. Started at so 
strange and unexpected a summons, he 
sprang from his bed and opened the door, 
when the first salutation of his boisterous and 
unseasonable visitor was an order immediate- 
ly to surrender the furt. llu])birjg his eyes 
and trying to collect his scattered senses, the 
captain asked by what authority he presum- 
ed to make such a demand. *' In the name 
of the Great Jehovah and the Continental 
Congress,'' rei)lied Allen. Not accustomed 



140 MEMOm OF 

to hear mnch of tlie Continental Congress 
in this remote corner, nor to respecfc its au- 
thority -when he did, the commandant be- 
gan to speak ; but Colonel Allen cut short 
the thread of his discourse by lifting his 
sword over his head, and reiterating the de- 
mand for an immediate surrender. Having 
neither permission to argue nor power to re- 
sist. Captain Delaplace submitted, ordering 
his men to parade without arms, and the 
garrison was given up to the victors.* 

This surprise was affected about four o^- 
clock in the morning of the 10th of May. 
"\yarner crossed the Lake with the remain- 
der of the troops, and marched up to the 
lort. The v/holo number of men under Col- 
onel Allen, as reported by the committee on 
the spot, in a letter to the Provincial Con- 
gress of ilassachusetts, dated the day after 
the assault, was one hundred and forty from 
the New Hampshire Grants, and seventy 
from Massachusetts, besides sixteen from 
Connecticut. The prisoners were one cap- 

*Tbo facts respecting: Nathan Beir.an were related 
to me by a gentleman, who I'cceivcd them from Na- 
than Beman himself. Whether this exploit of his 
boyhood was the only one performed by him during 
the war, I know not ; but his martial aptitude was dis- 
played in another career, he having been for many 
years a noted banter of wolves, on the northern bor- 
ders of New York between Lakes Cluimplain and On- 
tario. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 141 

tain, one lieutenant, and forty-eight subal- 
tems and privates, exclusive of wonoien and 
children. They were all sent to Hartford, 
in Connecticut. The principal advantage 
of the capture, except that of possessing the 
post, was one hundred and twenty pieces of 
cannon, also swivels, mortars, small arms, 
and stores. Tho cannon only were of much 
importance. 

As soon as tho prisoners were secured, 
and the bustle of the occasion had a little 
subsided. Colonel Allen sent ofi' Warner with 
a detachment of men to take Crown Point. 
Strong head-^vinds drove back the boats, 
and the whole party returned the same ev- 
ening. The attempt was renewed a day or 
two afterwards, and proved successful. A 
sergeant and eleven men, being the whole 
garrison, were made prison er^^. Sixty-one 
good cannon were found there, fifty-three 
unfit for service. Previously to this affair, 
Colonel Allen had sent a messenger to Cap- 
tain Remember Eaker, who was at Onion 
Kiver, recjucsting him to join the army at 
Ticonderoj^a with as lar^rc a number of men 
as he could assemble. Baker obeyed tho 
fiummons ; and when he was coming up the 
Lake with his party, he met two small boats, 
which had been despatched from Cpotsti 
Point to carry mtelligencc of the reduction 



142 MEMOia OF 

of Ticonderoga to St. John's and Montreal, 
and solicit reinforcements. The boats were 
seized by Baker, and he arrived at Crown 
Point just in time to unite with Warner in 
taking possession of that post. 

Thus the main object of the expedition 
was attained ; but the troubles of the leaders 
were not at an end. No sooner had the fort 
surrendered, than Arnold assumed the com- 
mand, affirming that he was the only officer 
invested with legal authority. His preten- 
sions were not heeded, and although he was 
vehement and positive, yet it was in vain to 
issue orders, which nobody would obey ; and 
jQnally he consented to a sort of divi^ded con- 
trol between Colonel Allen and himself, he 
acting as a subordinate, but not wholly with- 
out official consideration. He had behaved 
ydth bravery in the assault, marching on the 
left of Colonel Allen, and entering the forir 
ress side by side with him. V/hen the Con- 
necticut committee perceived his design, 
they repelled it upon the principle, that the 
government of Massachusetts had no con- 
cern in the matter, that the-men from that 
colony under Colonel Eacton were paid bj 
Connecticut, and that he could be consider- 
ed in no other light than a volunteer. The 
same committee installed Colonel Allen a- 
new in the command of Ticonderoga and its 



ETHAIT ALLEN. 143 

dependencies, wliicli by a formal commission 
they authorized him to retain, till Connecti- 
cut or the Continental Congress should send 
him instructions. A narrative of the partic- 
ulars '^^-as despatched by an express to the 
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, who 
confirmed the appointment, and directed Ar- 
nold not to interfere. 

The party that -went to Skenesborough 
came unawares upon Major Skene the 
younger, whom they took prisoner, seizing 
likewise a schooner and several batteaux, 
with all which they hastened to Ticondero- 
ga. Allen and Arnold now formed a plan 
to make a rapid push upon St. John's, take 
a Idng's sloop that lay there, and attempt a 
descent upon the garrison. The schooner 
and batteaiLX were armed and manned ; and, 
as Arnold had been a seaman in his youth, 
the command of the schooner was assigned 
to him, while the batteaux were committed 
to the charge of Allen. They left Ticon- 
deroga nearly at the same time, but the wind 
beincT fresh tlio schooner outsailed the bat- 
teaux. At eight o'clock on the evening of 
tlic ITthof May, Arnold was within thirty 
miles of St. John's ; and, as the weather was 
calm, ho fitted out two batteaux with thirty- 
five men, leaving the schooner behind and 
proceeding to St. John's, where he arrived 



144 MEMOIR OF 

at six o'clock tlie next morning, surprised 
and took a sergeant and twelve men, and 
the king's sloop of about seventy tons vvith 
two brass six-pounders and six men, without 
any loss on either side. The wind proving 
favorable, he stayed but two hours and then 
returned, taking with him the sloop, four 
batteaux, and some valuable stores, having 
destroyed five batteaux, being all that re- 
mained. He was induced to hasten away, 
because large reinforcements were momen- 
tarily expected from Montreal and Cham- 
blee. 

About fifteen miles from St. John's ho 
met Colonel Allen, pressing onward with his 
party. A salute of three discharges of can- 
non on the one side, and three volleys of 
mus5ketry on the other, was fired, and Allen 
paid Araold a visit on board the king's sloop. 
After inquiring into the situation of things, 
Allen determined to proceed to St. John's 
and keep possession there with about one 
hundred men. He arrived just before night, 
landed his party, and marched about a mile 
towards Laprairie, where he formed an am- 
buscade to intercept the reinforcements hour- 
ly expected. But finding his men greatly 
fatigued, and ascertaining that a force much 
superior to his own was on its approach, he 
retired to the other side of the river. In 



ETHAN ALLEN. 145 

this position ho was attacked early in the 
mornhig by two hnndrcd men, and driven 
to his boats, with which he returned to Ti- 
<;ondcroga. His loss was three men taken 
prisoners, one of whom escaped in a few 
<lays. 

While this train of events was in pro- 
gress, Colonel Easton had repaired to Mas- 
sachusetts and Connecticut, instructed by 
Colonel Allen and the committee to explain 
to the governments of those colonies the 
transactions attending the capture of Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point, and to solicit aids 
to secure these conquests. Since the af- 
fair had begun in Connecticut, the Provin- 
cial Congress of Massachusetts seemed Tvell 
inclined to let that colony have both tliehon- 
or and burden of maintaining the acquisi- 
tions, which had been gained under her aus- 
pices, and wrote to the governor of Connec- 
ticut, disclaiming all motives of interference, 
and recommending the business to his spe- 
cial charge . Governor Trumbull immediate- 
ly prepared for sendmg up a reinforcement 
of four hundred men. But in truth, nei- 
ther party was ambitious of assuming the re- 
sponsibility of further operations, till the 
views and intentions of the Continental Cen- 
grcss should be known. ^Messengers were 
acordingly despatched to Philadelphia : and 

:o 



146 MEMOIR OF 

also to the Convention of New York, m 
■wHch province the conquered posts were situ- 
ate. Policy as well as courtesy required that 
New York should be consulted, since the co- 
operation of that colony was essential to the 
harmony and success of any future meas- 
ures. The Continental Congress approved 
what had been done, and requested Govern- 
or Trumbull to send a body of troops to Lake 
Champlain, sufficient to defend the garrisons 
of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, till further 
orders from the Congress, and at the same 
time desired the Convention of New York 
to supply the said troops with provisions. 
This arrangement was carried into effect, 
and one thousand troops were ordered to 
march from Connecticut under the con> 
mand of Colonel Hinman. 

Meantime Allen and Arnold kept their 
stations, the former as commander-in-chief at 
Ticonderoga, and the latter at Crown Point, 
where he acted the part rather of a naval 
than of a military oflicer, having under hig 
care the armed sloop and schooner which had 
been taken, and a small flotilla of batteaux. 
Some of Colonel Allen's men went home, 
but others came in, both from the New Hamp- 
shire Grants, and from Albany county, so 
that his numbers increased. A few men al- 
so joined Arnold, whom he had engaged m 



ETHAN ALLEN. 147 

Massachusetts, when he crossed the country 
to execute the commission of the Commit- 
tee of Safety. 

Fhished with his successes, and eager to 
pursue them. Colonel Allen began to extend 
hit! views more widclv, and to think of the 
conquest of Canada. Persuaded that such 
an undertaking was feasible, and foreseeing 
its immense importance to the cause in which 
the country was now openly embarked, he 
wrote the following letter to the Provincial 
Congress of New York. 

''Crown Point, 2 June, 17 75- 

^' Gextlemex, 
*^ Before this time you have undoubtedly 
received intelligence, not only of the teiking 
of the fortified places on Lake Champlain, 
but also of the armed sloop and boats there- 
in, and the taking possession of a schooner, 
which is the property of Major Skene, which 
has Jjeen armed and manned, and of the con- 
version of them, with a largo train of artil- 
lery, to the defence of the liberty and the 
constitutional rights of America. You have 
likewise undoubtedly been informed, that 
the expedition was undertaken at the special 
encouragement and request of a number of 
respectable gentlemen in the colony of Con- 
necticut. The pork forwarded to subsist 
the army by youi* dii'cctivus evinces your ap- 



148 MEMOIR OF 

probation of the procedure ; and, as it was 
a private expedition, and common fame re- 
ports that there is a number of overgrown 
Tories in the province, you will the readier 
excuse me in not taking your advice in the 
matter, lest the enterprise might have been 
prevented by their treachery. It is here re- 
ported, that some of them have been convert- 
ed, and that others have lost their influence. 
" If in those achievements there be any 
thing honorary, the subjects of your govern- 
ment, namely, the New Hampshire settlers, 
are justly entitled to a large share, as they 
had a great majority of the soldiery, as well 
as the command, in making those acquisi- 
tions ; and, as you justify and approve the 
same, I expect you already have or soon 
will lay before the grand Continental Con- 
gress the great disadvantage it must inevi- 
tably be to the colonies to evacuate Lake 
Champlain, and give up to the enemies of 
our country those invaluable acquisitions, the 
key either of Canada or of our o^vn country, 
according to which party holds the same 
in possession, and makes a proper improve- 
ment of it. The key is ours as yet, and 
provided the colonies would suddenly push an 
army of two or three thousand men into Can- 
ada, they might make a conquest of all that 
would oppose them, in the extensive province 



ETUAN ALLEN. 149 

of Quebec, unless reinforcements from Eng- 
land should prevent it. Such a division 
■would Aveaken General Gage, or insure us 
Canada. I would lay my life on it, that 
Tvith fifteen hundred men I could take Mon- 
treal. Provided I could be thus furnished, 
and an army could take the field, it would 
be no insuperable dithculty to take Quebec. 

'' This object should be pursued, though 
it should take ten thousand men, for Eng- 
land cannot sparebut a certain number of her 
troops ; nay, she has but a small number 
that are disciplined, and it is as long as it is 
broad, the more that are sent to Quebec, the 
less they can send to Boston, or any other 
part of the continent. And there will be 
this unspeakable advantage in directing the 
war into Canada tliat instead of turning the 
(Canadians and Indians against us, as is 
wrongly suggested by many, it would una- 
voidably attach and connect them to our in- 
terest. • Our friends in Canada can never 
lielp us, until we first help them, except in 
a passive or inactive manner. There are 
now about seven hundred regular troops in 
Canada. 

'' It may Ije thought, that to push an ar- 
my into Canada would be too premature and 
imprudent. If so, I propose to make a 
stand at the Isle-aux-Noix, which the French 



150 MEMOIR OF 

fortified by intrenclinients the last war, and 
greatly fatigued our large army to take it. 
It is about fifteen miles on this side of St. 
John's, and is an island in the river, on 
which a small artillery placed would com- 
mand it. An establishment on a frontier, 
so far north, would not only better secure 
our own frontier, but put it in our power 
better to work our policy with the Canadi- 
ans and Indians, or if need be, to make in- 
cursions into the territory of Canada, the 
same as they could into our country, pro- 
vided they had the sovereignty of Lake 
Champlain, and had erected head-quarters 
at ' or near Skenesborough. Our only hav- 
ing it in our power, thus to make incursions 
into Canada, might probably be the very 
reason why it would be unnecessary so to 
do, even if the Canadians should prove more 
refractory than I think for. 

" Lastly, I would propose to you to raise 
a small regiment of rangers, which I could 
easily do, and that mostly in the counties of 
Albany and Charlotte, provided you should 
think it expedient to grant commissions, and 
thus regulate and put them under pay. 
Probably you may think this an impertinent 
proposal. It is truly the first favor I ever 
asked of the government, and, if granted, I 
shall be zealously ambitious to conduct for 



ETHAN ALLEN. 151 

the l)cst good of my country, and the hon- 
or of the government. I am, Gentlemen, 
kc, 

"Ethan Allen.'* 

In forming an estimate of this letter, it i3 
to be remembered, that no person had as 
yet ventured pul)hcly to recommend an in- 
vasion of Canada. It had in fact hitherto 
])ccn the policy of Congress to give as httle 
offence to the Canadians as possible, this 
course being thought the most likely to con- 
ciliate their friendship. A resolve passed 
that af^sembly, the day before the above let- 
ter was written, expressing a decided opin- 
ion, that no colony or body of colonists ought 
to countenance any incursion into Canada.. 
The same sentiments had been declared in a 
public manner, hy the New York Provincial 
Congress. Ethan Allen's letter, therefore, 
had little chance of meeting with favor from 
the persons to whom it was addressed. The 
merit of beincr the first to su2^2;est plans which 
were afterwards adojtted by the national 
councils, as of great political moment, was 
nevertheless due to him. Before the end 
of three months from the date of jiis letter, 
an expedition against Canada was set on foot 
by Congress, and seconded by the voice of 
the whole nation. Colonel Allen's advice 



152 MEMOIR OF 

was deemed bold and incautious when it -was*, 
given, but subsequent events proved, that 
its basis was wisdom and forethought ; and 
had it been heeded, and a competent force 
pushed immediately into Canada, before the 
British had time to rally and concentrate 
their scattered forces, few in numbers and 
imperfectly organized, there can be no reas- 
sonable doubt, that the campaign would have 
been successful, instead of the disastrous 
failure, which actually ensued, and which 
may be ascribed more to the wavering sen- 
timents and tardy motions of Congress m 
projecting and maturing the expedition, than, 
to any defect m the plan or in the manner 
of its execution. 

As Colonel Allen knew it was at this time 
the prevailing policy to secure the neutrality 
of the Canadians, he made no hostile demon- 
strations towards Canada, after the prudent 
measure in conjunction with Arnold of seizing 
all the watercraft at St. John's ; unless the 
sending of a reconnoitering party over the 
lino may beconsidered a belligerent act. It is 
evident, however, that he did not look upon 
it in that light ; for when his party of four- 
men returned, and reported that they had. 
been fired upon by about thirty Canadians^ 
he interpreted it as a breach of peace on tho 
side of the assailants. Embracing this as a 



ETHAN ALLEN. 153 

fit opportunity, he wrote a paper, comljining 
the two properties of a complaint and an ad- 
dress, Tvhich was signed by him and Colonel 
Easton, and despatched to a confidential per- 
son at Montreal, with directions to have it 
translated into French and circulated among 
the people. The idea of neutrality was put 
f<n'ward in this paper, as the one which tho 
Canadians ought to cherish, since they had 
no direct interest in taking part with the 
English, and certainly no cause for joining 
in a quarrel against their neighbors of tho 
other colonies. 

The troops from Connecticut under Col- 
onel Ilinman at length arrived at Ticonder- 
oga, and Colonel Allen's command ceased. 
His men chiefly returned home, their term 
of service having expired. He and Seth 
"Warner set off on a journey to the Conti- 
nental Congrcss, with the design of procur- 
ing pay for the soldiers, who had served un- 
der them, and of soliciting authority to raise 
a new regiment in tho New Ilampshiro 
Grants. In both tliese objects they were 
successful. By an oi-der of Congress they 
were introduced on the floor of the House, 
and they communicated verbally to the mem- 
bers such information as was desired. Con- 
gress voted to allow the men, who had been 
employed in taking and garrisoning Ticoa- 



154: MEMOm OF 

deroga and Crown Point, the same pay as 
was received by officers and privates in tlie 
American army ; and also recommended to 
the Provincial Congress of New York, that, 
after consulting with General Schuyler, 
'•^ they should employ in the army to be rais- 
ed for the defence of America those called 
Green Mountain Boys, under such officers as 
the saidGreen MountainBoys should choose." 
This matter was referred to the government 
of New York, that no controversy might a- 
rise about jurisdiction, at a time when af- 
fairs of vastly greater moment demanded the 
attention of all parties. 

Allen and Warner repaired without delay 
to tlie New York Congress, presented them- 
selves at the door of the hall, and requested 
an audience, the resolve of the Continental 
Congress having already been received and 
discussed. An embarrassing difficulty now 
arose among the members, which caused 
much warmth of debate. The persons, who 
asked admittance, were outlaws by an exist- 
ing act of the legislature of New York, and, 
although the Provincial Congress was a dis- 
tinct body from the old assembly, organized 
in opposition to it, and holding its recent 
principles and doings in detestation, yet 
some members had scruples on the subject 
tof disregarding in so palpable a manner the 



ETHAN ALLEN. 155 

laws of the land, as to join in a public con- 
ference with me)i, who had been proclaimed 
by tlie highest authority in the colony to be 
rioters and felons. There was also another 
party, whose feelings and interest were en- 
listed on the side of their scruples, who had 
taken an active part in the contest, and 
whose antipathies were too deeply rooted to 
be at once eradicated. On the other hand, 
the ardent friends of liberty, who regarded 
the great cause at stake as paramount to ev- 
ery thing else, and who were willing to show 
their disrespect for the old assembly, argued 
not only the injustice but tyranny of the act 
in question, and represented in strong colors 
the extreme impolicy of permitting ancient 
feuds to mar the harmony and obstruct the 
concert of action, so necessary for attaining 
the grand object of the wishes and eftbrts of 
every member present. In the midst of the 
debate, Captain Sears moved that Ethan Al- 
len should be admitted to the floor of the 
House. The motion Avas seconded by Mo- 
lancton Smith, and was carried by a major- 
ity of two to one. A similar motion prevailed 
in regard to Seth Warner. 

"When these gentlemen had addressed the 
House tliey withdrew, and it was resolved, 
that a regiment of Green ^lountain Boys 
should be raised, not exceeding five hun- 



156 MEMOIR OF 

dred men, and to consist of seven companies. 
Tbej were to choose their own officers, ex- 
cept the field-officers, who were to be ap- 
pointed bj the Congress of New York ; but 
it was requested that the people would nom- 
inate such persons as they approved. A 
lieutenant-colonel was to be the highest offi- 
cer. The execution of the resolve was re- 
ferred to General Schuyler, who immediate- 
ly gave notice to the inhabitants of the 
Grants, and ordered them to proceed in or- 
ganizing the regiment. 

Meantime Allen and Warner had finished 
their mission, and returned to their friends. 
The committees of several townships assem- 
bled at Dorset to choose officers for the new 
regiment. The choice fell on Seth Warner 
for lieutenant-colonel, and on Samuel Saf- 
ford for major. This nomination was con- 
firmed by the Kew York Congress. Wheth- 
er Colonel Allen declined being a candidate, 
or whether it was expected that the regi- 
ment would ultimately have a colonel, and 
that he would be advanced to that post, or 
whether his name was omitted for any other 
reason, I have no means of determining. 
At any rate he was not attached to the reg- 
iment, and in a few days he joined General 
Schuyler at Ticonderoga as a volunteer. He 
wrote a letter of thanks to the New York 



ETHAN ALLEN. 157 

Congress in the fullowiDg words. *^ AVlicn 
I reflect on the unliappy controversj, \>liich 
has many years subsisted between die gov- 
ernment of New York, and the settlers on 
the iSTcw Ilampsliire Grants, and also con- 
template the friendship and union that have 
lately taken place, in making a united resist- 
ance against ministerial vengeance and slave- 
ry, I cannot but indulge fond hopes of a rec- 
oncihation. To promote this salutary end 
I shall contribute my influence, assuring you, 
that your respectful treatment not only to 
iSFr. Warner and myself, but to the Green 
^lountain Doys in general in forming them 
into a battallion, is by them duly regarded ; 
and I will be responsible, that they will re- 
ciprocate this f\ivor by boldly hazarding their 
lives, if need be, in the common cause of A- 
mcrica." 

Knowing the value of Colonel Allen's ex- 
perience a'nd activity. General Schuyler per- 
suaded him to remain in the army, chiefly 
with the view of acting as a pioneer among 
the Canadians. In pursuance of this design, 
as soon as the army reached Isle-aux-Noix, an 
address to the people of Canada Avas written 
by General Schuyler, the drift of which was 
to convince them that the invasion was ex- 
clusively against the British, and in no de- 
gree intended as an encroachment on the 



158 MEMOm OF 

rights and liberties of the ancient inhabit- 
ants. On the contrary they were invited to 
unite with the Americans, and participate in 
the honorable enterprise of throwing off the 
shackles of an oppressive government, as- 
serting the claims of justice, and securing 
the enjoyment of freedom. This address 
was committed to the hands of Ethan Allen, 
who was instructed to proceed with it into 
Canada, make it known to the inhabitants in 
such a manner as his discretion should dic- 
tate, and ascertain as far as he could their 
temper and sentiments. 

He went first to Chamblee, where he 
found many persons friendly to the Ameri- 
can cause, and among them several men of 
the first respectability and influence. He 
was visited by these gentlemen, and by the 
militia captains in that neighborhood, who 
seemed well disposed to join with the Amer- 
icans, if there was any chance of their com- 
ing forward in such numbers as to hold out a 
probabihty of success. They furnished Col. 
Allen with a guard, who constantly attend- 
ed him under arms, and escorted him through 
the woods. He sent a messenger to the 
chiefs of the Caghnawaga Indians, proffer- 
ing to them peace and friendship. They re- 
turned the compliment by delegating two 
of their tribe, with beads and a belt of warn- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 159 

puni, to hold a conference with Colonel Al- 
len and confirm the friendly disposition of 
the Caglmawagas. The ceremony was per- 
formed with mucli parade and solemnity, ac- 
cording to the Indian manner. After spend- 
ing eight days on this mission, traversing 
diiferent parts of the com:- try between the So- 
rel and St. Lawrence, and conversing with 
many persons. Colonel Allen returned to the 
army at Isle-aux-NoLx. The result of his 
observation was, that, should the American 
army invest St. John's, and advance into 
Canada with a respectable force, a large 
number of the inhabitants would immediate- 
ly join in arms with the ximericans ; but till 
such a movement should be made, it was 
not likely that there would be any open in- 
dications of hostility to the British power. 
His conduct in executing this service was ap- 
proved by General Schuyler. 

Just at this time the command of tho 
Canada expedition devolved on General 
^lontgomery, who advanced to St. John's, 
and laid siege to that garrison. Colonel 
Allen was immediately despatched to retrace 
his steps, penetrate the country, and raise 
as many of the inhabitants as he could to n- 
nite in arms with tlie American forces. He 
had been absent a week, when ho wroto as 
fgllows to Genoral Montgomery. 



160 MEMOIR OP 

" I am now at the parish of St. Ours, 
four leagues from Sorel to the south. I 
have two hundred and fifty Canadians un* 
der arms. As I march, they gather fast. 
There are the objects of taking the vessels 
in the Sorel and General Carleton. These 
objects I pass by to assist the army besieg- 
ing St. John's. If that place be taken, the 
country is ours ; if we miscarry in this, all 
other achievements will profit but little. I 
am fearful our army will be sickly, and that 
the siege may be hard ; therefore I choose 
to assist in conquering St. John's. You 
may rely on it, that I shall join you in about 
three days with five hundred or more Can- 
adian volunteers. I could raise one or two 
thousand in a week's time, but I wall first 
visit the army with a less number, and, if 
necessary, go again recruiting. It is with 
the advice of the officers with me, that I 
speedily repair to the army. God grant 
you wisdom and fortitude and every accom- 
plishment of a victorious general." 

Unluckily these anticipations were blight- 
ed in their bloom. In an evil hour Colonel 
Allen was induced to change his judicious 
determination of joining General Montgom- 
ery without delay, and to give ear to a pro- 
ject; which proved the ruin of lus bright 
hopes, and led him into a fatal snare. He 



ETHAN ALLEN. 161 

liad marched up the eastern bank of the St. 
Lawrence as far as Longueil, nearly oppo- 
site to Montreal, and ^yaa pressing on towards 
St. John's, according to the tenor of his let- 
ter. Between Longueil and Laprairie he 
fell in with Major Brown, who was at the 
head of an advanced party of Amoricans 
and Canadians. Brown rcc|ucsted liim to 
stop, took him aside, and proposed to unite 
their forces in an attack on Montreal, re- 
presenting tho defenceless condition of the 
town, and the case with which it might be 
taken by surprise. Relying on the knowl- 
edge and fidehty of Brown, and ever ready 
to pursue adventures and court danger, Co- 
lonel Allen assented to the proposal, and 
tho plan wag matured on the spot. Allen 
was to return to Longueil, procure canoes, 
and pass over with his party in the night a 
little below IMontreal ; and Brown at the 
same time was to cross above the town, with 
about two hundred men, and the attack was 
to be made simultaneously at opposite points. 
True to his engagement, Allen crossed 
the river on the night of the 24th of Sep- 
tember, with eighty Canadians and thirty 
Americans, and landed them undiscovered 
before daylight, although tho oanccs were so 
few and small, that it was necessary to pass 
back and forth three times in conveying o- 

11 



162 MEMOIR OF 

ver the whole party. The wind was high 
and the waves rough, which added to the 
peril of an adventure sufficiently hazardous 
in itself. The day dawned, and Colonel Al- 
len waited with impatience for the signal of 
Major Brown's division having division land- 
ed above the town. He set guards in the 
road to stop all persons that were passing, 
and thus prevent intelligence of his approach 
from being carried into Montreal. When 
the morning was considerably advanced and 
no signal had been given, it was evident 
that Major Brown had not crossed the river. 
Colonel Allen would willingly have retreat- 
ed, but it was now too late. The canoes 
would hold only one third of his party. A 
person detained by his guard had escaped 
and gone into the town, and presently arm- 
ed men were seen coming out. He posted 
his men in the best manner he could, and 
prepared to maintain his ground. About 
forty British regulars, two or three hundred 
Canadians, and a few Indians, constituted 
the assailing force. The skirmish continued 
an hour and three quarters, when Colonel 
Allen agreed to surrender to the principal 
British officer, upon being promisee! honora- 
ble terms. His men had all deserted liim 
in the conflict, except thirty-eight, who were 
included in his capitulation. Seven of these 



ETIIAN ALLEN. 163 

were wounded. They were treated civilly 
by the officers while raaiThin<^ into Montre- 
al, and till they were delivered over to Gen- 
eral Preacott, whose conduct is described as 
having been peculiarly harsh, and in all re- 
spects unworthy of an officer of his rank. 
Ilis lanizua^e was coarse and his manner un- 
feeling. After conversing with his prison- 
er, and asking him if he was the same Colo- 
nel Allen, who had taken Ticonderoga, he 
burst into a passion, threatened him Avith a 
halter at Tyburn, and ordered him to be 
bound hand and foot in irons on board the 
Gaspee schooner of war. In this situation 
Colonel Allen wrote the following letter to 
General Prescott. 

" Honorable Sir, 

'' In the wheel of transitory events I find 
myself a prisoner and in irons. Probably 
your honor has certain reasons to me incon- 
ceivable, though I challenge an instance of 
this sort of economy of the Americans du 
ring the late war towards any officers of the 
Crown. On my part, I have to assure youi' 
Honor, that when I had the command and 
took Captain Delaplacc and Lieutenant Fel- 
ton, with the garrison at Ticrnderoga, 1 
treated them with every mark of friendship 
and irenerositv, the evidence of which is no- 



164 MEMOIR OF 

torious even in Canada. I have only to add, 
that I expect an honorable and humane 
treatment, as an officer of my rank and mer- 
it should have, and subscribe myself your 
Honor's most obedient humble servant. 

"Ethan Allen."* 

No answer to this letter was returned. 
Colonel Allen's irons were massive, and so 
fastened as to give him constant pain. He 
was handcuffed, and his ankles were con- 
fined in shackles, to which was attached a 
bar of iron eight feet long. In this plight 
he was thrust into the lowest part of the 
ship, where ho had neither a bed nor any ar- 
ticle of furniture except a chest, on which 
by the favor of some humane sailor he was 
allowed to sit, or lie on his back, the only 
recumbent posture that his irons would suf- 
fer him to assume. His companions inarms, 
who capitulated on the same terms as their 
leader, were fastened together in pairs with 
handcuffs and chains. 

=* The account of the capture of Ticonderoga, which 
has been given above, and of the subsequent events of 
Colonel Allen's life till he was taken prisoner, has 
been drawn entirely from original manuscripts, in the 
public offices of Massachusetts and New York, and 
among General Washington's papers. The particu- 
iilars respecting his captivity are chiefly gathered from 
his own " Narrative^'' written and published shortly af- 
ter his release. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 1G5 

For more than five weeks the prisoners 
were kept in this manner on board the Gas- 
pee, treated as criminals, and subject to ev- 
ery indignity from the officers, and from per- 
sons who came to see them out of curiosity. 
After the repulse of Governor Carleton at 
Longueil, by "Warner and his brave Green 
iMountain Boys, the state of aficiirs in Mon- 
treal began to j)ut on a more doubtful as- 
pect. It was deemed advisable to send off 
the prisoners, that there might be no danger 
of a rescue, in case of the sudden approach 
of General Montgomery's army, which 
might be daily expected. 

In a short time Colonel Allen found him- 
self at Quebec, where he was transferred to 
another vessel, and then to a third, a change 
most favorable to his health and comfort. 
Cajjtain Littlejohn, the commander of the 
last vessel, was particularly civil, generous, 
and friendly, ordering his irons to be knock- 
ed off, taking him to his own table, and de- 
claring that no brave man should be ill 
used on board his ship. Unhappily this re- 
spite from suftering was of short continuance. 
Arnold appeared at Point Levi, on the 9th 
of November, with an armed force, descend- 
ing from the forests like an apparition of en- 
chantment in "some fairy tale. The news of 
tiie surrender of St. John's and the capitu- 



166 MEMOIR OF 

lation of Montreal to General Montgomery 
came soon afterwards. These events were 
looked upon as the harbinger of greater dis- 
asters, in the downfall of Quebec, and the 
conquest of the whole province. In antici- 
pation of the fate of St. John's and Montre- 
al, a vessel of war, called the Adamant, had 
been got in readiness to carry despatches to 
the government. The prisoners were put on 
board this vessel, and consigned to the 
charge of Brook Watson, a merchant of 
Montreal. Several other loyalists were pas- 
sengers, and among them Guy Johnson. ■ 

Under his new master, Colonel Allen 
soon discovered, that he was not to expect 
the urbanity and kindness of Captain Little- 
john. His handcuffs were replaced, and 
lie and thirty-three other prisoners, mana- 
cled in the same manner, were confined to- 
gether in a single apartment, enclosed with 
oak plank, which they were not suffered to 
leave during the whole passage of nearly 
forty days. Where there is so much to 
censure in the hardened insensibihty, which 
could inflict sufferings like these on prison- 
ers, whose only crime was their bravery, it 
should be mentioned as one softening fea- 
ture, that as much provision was served to 
them as they wanted, and a gill of rum a 
day to each man ; so that the negative mer- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 1<37 

it of not adding starvation to confinement, 
insults, and chains, should be allowed to 
have its full weight. Tho name of Brook 
"Watson had already become notorious. 
Three or four months previously to his sail- 
ing for England, he had been at New York 
and I*hiladclphia, visited many persons 
of distinction, especially members of the 
Continental Congress, and conducted him- 
self in such a manner as to leave the impres- 
sion, that he was a wann friend to the A- 
merican cause. Immediately after his re- 
turn to Montreal, letters written by him to 
persons m General Gage's army at Eoston 
were intercepted, which proved him to have 
deserved the character rather of a spy than 
a fiiend. He had art, insincerity, and tal- 
ent. He was the same Brook Watson, who 
was afterwards Lord Mayor of London. 

It was a joyful day for the prisoners when 
the Adamant entered the harbor of Fal- 
mouth. Their long and close confinement 
liad become extremely irksome and painful. 
They were now brought on deck, and per- 
mitted to breathe the fresh air, and were 
cheered with the light of day. In a short 
lime they were landed, and marched to 
Bendennis Castle, about a nile from the 
town. Great crowds were atirrcted to wit- 
ness so novel a sight ; and if all jLo prison- 



168 MEMOIR OF 

ers were habited in the costume of Colonel 
Allen, it is no "wonder that their curiosity 
v/as excited. While he was on his recruit- 
ing tour he had clothed himself in a Can- 
adian dress, consisting of a short, fawn-skin, 
double-breasted jacket, a vest and breeches 
of sagathj, worsted stockings, shoes, a plain 
shirt, and a red worsted cap. In this garb 
he was taken ; and, as it had never been 
changed during his captivity, he was exhib- 
ited in it to the gazing multitudes of Fal- 
mouth. Robinson Crusoe on his island could 
hardly have presented a more grotesque ap- 
pearance. The people stared, but no insult 
was oiFered to the prisoners on their Avay to 
the castle. 

In this new abode they found their con- 
dition much improved, being lodged in an 
airy room, and indulged with the luxury of 
bunks and straw. Their irons were still 
kept on, but they were kindly treated, and 
furnished with fresh and wholesome provis- 
ions. Colonel Allen was particularly favor- 
ed by the commandant of the castle, who 
sent him a breakfast and dinner every day 
from his own table, and now and then a bot- 
tle of wine. Another benevolent gentle- 
xnan supplied his board witli suppers, and in 
the article of good living his star of fortune 
had probably never been more propitious. 



ETHAN ALLEX. 1G9 

Tlio rcno^^l of liis adventure at Ticondero- 
ga had gone before liim ; and as that for- 
tress had a notoriety in England, on ac- 
count of its importance in former wars, the 
man who had conquered it was looked upon 
as no common person, though now in chains 
and stigmatized with the name of rebel. Ho 
was [jermitted to walk on the parade-ground 
within the walls of the castle, where many 
respectable people from the neighborhood 
paid him a visit, and conversed with him on 
various topics. His bold and independent 
manner, fluency of language, and strong na- 
tive talent, contrasted with the singularity 
of his appearancQ, in his Canadian dress 
and handcufls, awakened the surprise and 
contributed to the amusement of his audi- 
tors. Though in bondage, and completely 
at the mercy of his enemies, he was elo- 
quent on the theme of patriotism, boasted 
the courage and firmness of his country- 
men, and pledged himsi If that they would 
never cease to resist oppression, till their 
just claims were allowed, and their liberty 
secured. These political harangues, if they 
had no other effect, served to lighten the 
weight of his chains, and to give a seeming 
impulse to the leaden wings of time. 

Notwithstanding the comparative amelior- 
ation of liis circumstances. Colonel Allen's 



170 MEMOIR OF 

mind was not perfectly at ease in regard to 
the future. General Prescott's hint about 
his gracing a halter at Tyburn rested upon 
his thoughts, and gave him some uneasiness 
amidst the uncertain prospects now before 
him. But despondency and fear made no 
part of his character, and, even when hope 
failed, his fortitude was triumphant. Pre- 
pared for the worst that might happen, he 
bethought himself of trying the efect of a 
stratagem. He asked permission to write a 
letter to the Continental Congress, which 
was 2;ranted. lie dcoicted in vivid colors 
the treatment he had received from the be- 
ginning of his captivity, but advised the 
Congress not to retaliate, till the fate that a- 
waited him in England should be known, 
and then to execute the law of retahation 
not in proportion to the small influence of 
his character in America, but to the extent 
demanded by the importance of the cause 
for which he had suffered. The despatch 
was finished, and handed over for inspection 
to the officer, who had permitted him to 
write. This officer went to him the next 
day, and reprimanded him for what he call- 
'ed tlie impudence of inditing such an epis- 
tle. " Do you think we are fools in Eng- 
jland," said he, " and would send your letter 
>^o Congress with instructions to retaliate on 



FTIIAN ALLEN. 171 

our o^Yn people ? I have sent your letter 
to Lord North." Thi=- Tvas precisely the 
destination for •\vliicli the writer intended it, 
and he felt a secret satisfaction that his ar- 
tifice had succeeded. lie wished the mhi- 
istry to know his situation and his past suf- 
ferings, and to reflect, that his countrymen 
had it in their power to retahate in full 
measure any acts of violence meditated a- 
gainst his person. A letter on these sub- 
ject s, written directly to a minister by a 
prisoner in irons, would not have been for- 
warded. 

AVhatever ideas the ministry may have en- 
tertained when the prisoners were landed, 
it was soon perceived that lenient measures 
were the most advisable. The opposition 
made a handle of an act so outrageous, as 
that of treating; as malefactors and chain- 
ing men, who had been taken bravely fight- 
ing in a cause, for which a whole continent 
was in arms ; and it was riow too late to talk 
of hanging the revolted colonists on the 
i)lea of rebellion. Moreover it was known, 
that St. John's and Montreal had surren- 
dered to Montgomery, and that the very 
officei*s, who had captured these men and 
sent them to England, were in the hands of 
the Americans. It was furthermore rumor- 
-ed, that certain gentlemen had resolved Uf 



172 MEMOIR OF 

try the effect of the Hah eas Corpus act in 
setting the prisoners at liberty, or at least 
in bringing them to a trial before a proper 
magistrate, to ascertain whetJier they were 
legally guilty of any offence, which justified 
their confinement. To silence popular cla- 
mor, and prevent rash consequences, the 
government determined to regard them as 
prisoners of war, and to send them back to 
America. For this purpose they were or- 
dered on board the Solebay frigate, where 
their irons were taken off, after they had 
worn them about three months and a half. 
Just at this time the grand armament 

o 

was preparing to sail from Ireland, under 
Sir Peter Parker and Lord Cornwalhs, with 
troops to act against North Carolina, accord- 
ing to a plan formed by the ministry in con- 
sequence of the representations of Govern- 
or Martin, that a numerous body of loyalists 
was ready to take up arms in that colony, 
as soon as they should be encouraged by the 
co-operation of a sufficient force from Great 
Britain. The troops were to be put on board 
in the harbor of Cork, where the vessels 
destined for the expedition rendezvoused, 
and among them the Solebay frigate. From 
the captain of this ship Colonel Allen had 
early proofs, that the prisoners Avere to ex- 
pect neither lenity nor civil treatment. His 



ETHAN ALLEN. 173' 

first salutation Tvas to order tlicm in an im- 
perious tone to leave the deck, and never ap- 
pear there again, adding that the deck was 
the '' place for gentlemen to walk." Allen 
was conducted down to the cahle-tier, where 
he was left to accommodate himself as well 
as he could. Leing ill of a cold, and liis 
health much impaired by his late suftcrings, 
the natural buoyancy of his spirits failed 
him in this comfortless abode, and he felt 
himself, as he has expressed it, " in an evil 
case," imagining his enemies to have devis- 
ed this scheme of efiecting, by a slow and 
clandestine process, what it was impolitic for 
them to do in the open face of day with the 
eyes of the public upon them. 

Uis despondency, however, gradually 
wore off, and, two days afterwards, wanting 
fresh air .and exercise, ho resolved to try 
the experiment of appearing on deck, hav- 
ing washed, shaved, and adjusted his dres3 
in the best manner liis scanty wardrobe 
would allow. The captain saw him, and de- 
manded in an angry voice, if he had not 
been ordered not to come on deck. Colonel 
Allen replied, that he had heard such an or- 
der from him, but at the same time he had 
said, " the deck was the place for gentle- 
men to walk," and, as he was Colonel Allen 
and a gentleman, ho claimed the privilege of 



174 MEMOIR OF 

liis rank. Whether influenced bj this kind 
of logic, or by some other reason, the cap- 
tain contented himself with uttering an oath 
and cautioning the prisoner never to be seen 
on the same side of the ship with him. 
There was encouragement even in this harsh 
greeting, since it did not amount to an ab- 
solute prohibition ; and, by taking care to 
keep at a proper distance from the captain, 
he was afterwards permitted to walk the 
deck, though sometimes capriciously and 
rudely ordered off. His condition below was 
somewhat amended by the generosity of the 
master-at-arms, an Irishman, who offered him 
a place in a little berth fitted up for himself 
with canvass between the decks, in which 
he was kindly allowed by the occupant to re- 
main till the ship arrived in America. 

When it was known at Cork, that Colo- 
nel Allen and his fellow-prisoners were in the 
harbor on board the Solebay, several gen- 
tlemen of that city determined to convey to 
them substantial evidences of their sympa- 
thy. A full suit of clothes was sent to 
each of the privates ; and Colonel Allen's 
wardrobe was replenished with fine broad- 
cloth sufficient for two suits, eight shirts, and 
stocks ready made, several pairs of silk and 
worsted hose, shoes, and two beaver hats, 
one of which was richly adorned with gold 



ETITAX "aLLEX. 175' 

lac(?. Kor did the bounty of the philanthro- 
pists of Cork end hero. Although they had 
clothed the naked, they did not consider 
the work of benevolence finished till they 
had fed the hungry. A profuse supply of 
sea-stores came on board for Colonel Allen, 
consisting of sugar, coffee, tea, chocolate, 
pickled beef, fat turkics, wines, old spirits, 
and other articles suited for a voYa;rc. Each 
of the privates also received tea and sugar. 
Added to this, a gentleman visited Colonel 
Allen,in behalf of the donors, and offered him 
fifty guineas, which, after the other tokens 
of their munificence, he declined to accept, 
retaining only seven guineas as a relief in 
case of pressing necessity. 

The above articles were admitted on board 
by the second lieutenant, wliile liis superiors 
were on shore ; but when the captain re- 
turned and was informed what had been 
done, he was angry, and swore that " the 
American rebels should not be feasted at 
this rate by the rebels of Ireland." He 
took away all the liquors, except a small 
quantity, which was secreted by the conni- 
vance of the second lieutenant, and he ap- 
propriated to tho use of the crew all the 
tea and sugar, that had been given to the 
privates. The clothing they were permit 
ted to keep. 



176 MEMOIR OF 

The fleet put to sea from Cork on the 
13th of February, consistmg of forty-three 
sail, "with about two thousand five hundred 
troops. The weather was fine, and the ef- 
fect was beautiful as the ships sailed out of 
the harbor ; but they had been out only five 
days, when a terrible storm arose, which rag- 
ed with unabated violence for twenty-four 
hours, dispersed the fleet, and shattered sev- 
eral of the transports so much, that they 
were obliged to put back to Cork and the 
southern ports of England. The Solebay 
received no essential injury, and she pro- 
ceeded on her voyage. Before they left 
Cork the prisoners were divided and as- 
signed to three different ships. This gave 
their leader some uneasiness, for they had 
been brave, and true to the cause in which 
they suffered, and had borne all their calam- 
ities with a becoming fortitude. It turned 
out, however, that they were better treated 
on board the other ships, than they had been 
while with him. The only incider-t worthy 
of being commemorated, which happened 
to Colonel Allen during the voyage, was the 
change of his Canadian costume for one fab- 
ricated from the superfine broadcloths re- 
ceived in Cork. This metamorphosis was 
effected by the aid of the captain's tailor, 
whose services were granted on this ocga- 



ETfl.VN ALLEN. 177 

Mon a3 a special favor. Clad in his new 
.^iiit -svith his silk stockings and laced hat, 
the prisoner made a more respectable fig- 
ure on dock, and enjoyed privileges, which 
at first had been denied. 

It was with some regret, therefore, that, 
after his arrival at Capo Fear River, in 
North Carolina, he found himself transferred 
to the Mercury frigate, the captain of which 
he describes as tyrannical, narrow-minded, 
and destitute of the common feelings of hu- 
manity. The only consolation in this change 
of circumstances was, that his original com- 
panions in captivity were brought together 
again on board this ship, except one who 
had died on the passage from Ireland, and 
an<.>ther who had escaped by an extraordm- 
ary exertion of swimming, after the fleet 
arrived on the coast, and who safely reach- 
ed his home in New England. The captain 
(•rdered the purser not to let the prisoners 
have any thing from his store, and forbade 
the surgeon's attending them in sickness. 
Every night they were shut down in the ca- 
ble-tier, and indeed they passed a miserable 
existence both day and night, being t<)ld, 
when they complained of such treatment, 
that it was a matter of little consequence, 
as they would be hanged when they arrived 
in Halifax. 



178 MEMOIR OF 

The Mercury sailed from Cape Fear Riv- 
er on the 20th of May, and touched at the 
Hook off New York the first week m June. 
At this time General Yf ashington with the 
American Army had possession of New 
York, and the British shipping lay in the 
outer harbor near the Hook. The Mercu- 
ry remained here three days, during which 
time Governor Tryon, and Mr. Kemp, the 
attorney-general of New York under the 
old government, came on board. Tryon 
eyed Allen, as they were w^alking on differ- 
ent parts of the deck, but did not speak to 
him. It is natural to presume, that the late 
governor saw with a secret satisfaction the 
man in safe custody, who had caused him so 
much unavailing trouble in wTiting procla- 
mations. Kemp was the same attorney, 
whom Allen had met at Albany, w^hen he 
attended the court there as agent for the 
patentees of the New Hampshire Grants. 
No man had l)een more active in pressing 
the New Y^ork claims, or in stirring up per- 
secutions against the Green Mountain Boys ; 
and of course no one had acquired among 
them a more odious notoriety. This acci- 
dental meeting with Ethan Allen must have 
called up peculiar associations in the minds 
of botli the governor and the attorney-gen- 
eraL 



ETHAN ALLEN. 179 

The Mercury amvcd in Halifax after a 
Fhort passage from New York. The pris- 
onere were put into a sloop, then lying in the 
harbor, and a guard watched them day and 
night. In this confinement they were serv- 
ed with so scanty an allowance of provisions, 
that they suficred cruelly from the distress 
of hunger, which, added to attacks of the 
pcurvy, made their condition more deplora- 
l>lo than it had been at any former time. 
The}" were still under tlio direction of the 
captain of the IMercury, to whom they wrote 
letter after letter, imploring medical aid and 
other assistance, but in vain. The captain 
was deaf to their calls, took no notice of 
their complaints, and, to get rid of their im- 
portunities, he ordered the guards to bring 
liim no more letters. Their case seemed noA7 
reduced to the verge of despair. Allen re- 
solved, however, to make one more eftbrt. 
lie wrought so far upon the compassion of 
one of the guards, as to persuado him to 
take a letter directed to Governor Arbuth- 
not, which was faithfully communicated. 
Touched with the claims of humanity, the 
governor immediately sent a surgeon to the 
prisoners, with instructions to adni mister 
such relief to the sick as was necessary, and 
d?o an officer, to ascertain and report the 
grounds of their complaint. This officer di,^- 



180 MEMOIR OP 

charged his duty well, and the result was, 
that the next day they were removed from 
their dismal quarters on board the prison- 
sloop to the jail in Halifax. 

To seek the asylum of a jail is not a u- 
sual experiment for attaining happiness. In 
the present instance, however, it was a for- 
tunate one for the sufferers, inasmuch as it 
was the means of relieving them from the 
pains of hunger, and procuring for them 
the attendance of a physician. In other re- 
spects their condition was little amended, 
since more than thirty persons were shut up 
in one room, several of them in various stag- 
es of sickness, with hardly a single accom- 
modation, that could in any manner contrib- 
ute to their comfort or convenience. Some 
of Allen's fellow-prisoners had been sent to 
the hospital, and others employed in the pub- 
lic works, so that only thirteen of those ta- 
ken in Canada now remained with him. 

Among the American prisoners, whom Al- 
len met in Halifax jail, was Mr. James Lov- 
ell of Boston, a gentleman eminent for his 
learning and character, who, after his re- 
lease, was many years a member of the 
Continental Congress. His zeal in the cause 
of his country, and frankness in avowing 
his sentiments, had made him an object of 
suspicion and odium to the British com- 



ETEAN ALIJEN. 181 

mandcr in Boston, where he was first im- 
prisoned : and, -when tliat city was evacuatr 
ed, he was carried into ca])tivity, and locked 
up in the jail of llahfax in the same apart- 
ment with prisoners of the lowest class. 

There were now together four American 
officers, besides Mr. Lovell, who, by the cus- 
tom of war and the practice then existing 
in re.irard to British prisoners taken by the 
Americans, had a right to their parole ; but 
tliis was never granted. They were keptiu 
close confinement till orders came from Gen- 
eral Howe to send them to New York. Par- 
tial negotiations had commenced between 
General Washington and Goneral Howe for 
the exchange of prisoners, and certain prin- 
ciples had been laid down, by the mutual a- 
greoment of the parties, as a basis up<m 
^vllich to proceed. Moreover Congress had 
instructed General Washington to make a 
special ajiplication in favor of Mr. Tx)vell 
and Colonel Allen, proposing to exchann;o 
Governor Skene for the fonner, and an ofti- 
cer of equal rank for the latter. The leg- 
islature of Connecticut had also interfered 
in b(^alf of Allen, and eighteen of the pris- 
oners taken with him, who were natives of 
that State, and solicited Congress and the 
(^'ommandcr-in-chief to use all practicable 
means for cficcting their release. The same 



182 MEMOIR OF 

had been done by the Massachusetts legis- 
lature in the case of Mr. Lovell. 
( After the intelligence of Allen's bein;^ in 

/ Halifax reached his friends, a project was 
i formed by his brother, Levi Allen, to visit 
/ him there and attempt to procure his liber- 
ty. The State of Connecticut voted money 
to pay the expense of this enterprise, but 
the arrival of the prisoners in New York 
rendered it unnecessary. 

The Lark frigate, on board of which y/ere 
Mr. Lovell, Colonel Allen, and their com- 
panions, sailed from Halifax about the mid- 
dle of October. Luckily they found them- 
selves at last under an officer, Captain 
Smith, who treated them with the politeness 
of a gentleman, and with the feelings of a 
man capable of sympathizing in the distress- 
es of the unfortunate. The first interview 
is thus described by Colonel Allen. "When 
I came on deck, he met me with his hand, 
welcomed me to his ship, invited me to dine 
with him that day, and assured me that I 
should be treated as a gentleman, and that 
he had given orders that I should be treat- 
ed with respect by the ship's crew. This 
was so unexpected and sudden a transition, 
that it drew tears from my eyes, which all 
the ill usages I had before met with were 
not able to produce ; nor could I at first 



ETHAN ALLEN. 183 

hardly speak, but soon recovered myself, 
and expressed my gratitude for so unexpect- 
-'d a lavor, and let him know, that I felt anx- 
iety of mind in reilectmg, that his situation 
and mine was such, that it was not probable 
it would ever be in my power to return the 
favor. Captain Smith replied, that he had 
no reward in view, but only treated me as a 
gentleman ought to be treated. He said, 
this is a mutable world, and one gentleman 
never knows but it may ])C hi his power to 
help another.'* 

An opportunity soon occurred of verify- 
ing this last remark. They had not been at 
sea many days, when it was discovered that 
:i conspiracy was on foot to destroy the cap- 
tahi and the principal officers, and seize tho 
ship. An American captain, who had com- 
manded an armed vessel, and been recently 
taken prisoner, vras tho chief conspirator, 
lie revealed his designs to Colonel Allen, 
and Mr. Lovell, requesting their co-operiv 
lion in bringing over the other prisoners, a- 
bout thirty in number, and telling them that 
several of tho crew were ready to join in 
the plot. It was known that there were 
thirty-five thousand pounds in money on 
board, and the plan of the conspiracy was 
to take the ship into an American port, 
where they expected to divide the booty ae- 



184' " MEMOIPw OF 

cording to the usual rules of captures. 
Without waiting to discuss the laws of ,wary 
or to reason about the infamy and criminal- 
ity of such an act with men, who were pre- 
pared to execute it, Colonel Allen declared' 
with his usual decision and vehemence, that 
he would not listen a moment to such a 
scheme, that, in its mildest character, it was:- 
a base and wicked return for the kind treat- 
ment they had received, and that he would 
at every personal hazard defend Captain 
Smith's life. This rebuff was unexpected 
by the conspirators, and it threw them into 
a distressing dilemma, since the fear of de- 
tection was now as appalling to them as the 
danger of their original enterprise. They 
then requested him to remain neutral, and 
let them proceed in their own way, but this 
he peremptorily refused ; and he finally suc- 
ceeded in quelling their conspiracy, by ad- 
hering to his resolution, and promising, that 
as he had been consulted in confidence, he 
would not divulge the matter, if the leaders 
would pledge themselves instantly to aban- 
don the design. In the present state of 
things they were glad to accept such terms. 
At the conclusion of this affair Colonel Al- 
len was forcibly reminded of the words of 
Captain Smith. 
Before the end of October the Lark fris:- 



ETHAN" ALLEX. 185 

ate anchorcLl in the harbor of New York, 
and the prisoners were removed to the Glas- 
<5ow trans[iort. ^Mr. Lovell was exchanged 
in a few davs for Governor Skene ; and Co- 
lonel Allen, after remaining four or five 
weeks in the transport, where he met with 
\ ery civil usage, was landed in New York 
and admitted to his parole. Here he had 
an op])ortunity of witnessing the wretched 
condition and extreme suftcrings of the A- 
merican prisoners, who had been taken in 
the battle of Long Island and at Fort AVash- 
ington, and Avho were left to perish of hun- 
ger, cold, ami sickness in thej churches of 
New York. He speaks- of these scenes as 
the most painful and revolting, that could 
bo conceived. Indeed numerous eoncur- 
rinir testimonies have established it as a fact 
of which not a shadow of doubt can now be 
entertained, that human misery has seldom 
been seen in such hcart-jcnding forms or un- 
der circumstances so aggravating. The mo- 
tives of the enemy for practising or permit- 
ting cruelties so little consonant to tho 
dictates of humanity, the customs of civil- 
ized warfare, and every principle of sound 
policy, are not a fit theme of iufjuiry in thia 
narrative. The fact itself is an indelible 
Ftain, deep and dark, in the character of 
Sir William Howe, which no array of prt- 



186 MEMOIR OF 

vato virfcues, of miiitaiy talents, or public 
.acts, -will hide or obscure. The picture 
drawn by Alien, colored as it may be by the 
ardor of his feelings, is vivid and impres- 
sive, and its accuracy is confirmed by the 
•declarations of several other persons, who 
also related what they saw. 

While he was on his parole in I^ew York, 
a British officer of rank and importance sent 
for him to his loddngs and told him thathia 
fidelity, though in a wrong cause, had made 
an impression upon General Howe, who was 
disposed to show him a favor, and to ad- 
vance him t(^ the command of a regiment of 
loyalists, if he would join the service, hold- 
ing out to him at the same time brilliant 
prospects of promotion and money during 
the war, and large tracts of land at its close. 
Allen replied, " that if by faithfulness he 
had recommended himself to General Howe, 
he should be loth by unfaithfulness to lose 
the general's good opinion;" and as to the 
■lands, he was by no means satisfied, thattho 
King would possess a sufficient quantity in 
the United States at the end of the war to 
redeera any pledges on that score. The of- 
ficer sent him away as an incorrigible and 
hojieless subject. 

In the month of January, 1777, he was 
directed with other prisoners to take up his 



ETHAN ALLEN. 187 

abode on tlio "western side of Long Island, 
bcin;:; still on parole, and allowed the usual 
freedom under such circum.^tances "^N-itliiu 
ccrtaift prescribed limits. Hero bo remain- 
ed in a condition of comparative comiort till 
August, "when he was suddenl}^ apprehend- 
ed, environed "^ith guards, conducted to the 
provost-jail in New York, and put into soli- 
tary coniincment. This act was on the ])rc- 
tencc of his having infringed his parole, 
which he affirmed was untrue, and the whole 
proceeding unjui-;t and malicious. But the 
cause was now of little moment, since he was 
chicdy concerned with the ellect. For tho 
space of three days ho was immured in 
liis cell without a morsel of food. Tho ser- 
geant, who stood at the door, refused to bo 
removed by offers of money or appeals to 
his compassion, and repelled every advance 
with a soldier's oath and tho brief reply, 
that he would obey his orders. The pains 
of hunger l)ccame extreme, but they were 
at last assuaged ; and in a fev/ days he was 
transferred to another apartment of the jail, 
where he fouu'l himself in company with 
more than twenty American officers. 

From this place he was not removed till 
the end of his captivity. After being shut 
up for more than eight months in the pro- 
vost-jail, a confinement of wliich the prison- 



188 MEMOIR OP 

ers Tvere ever accustomed to speak with dis- 
gust and horror, the day of liberty dawned 
upon him. 

Neither his countrymen generally, nor 
the supreme council of the nation, had at a- 
ny time lost sight of his sufferings, or ceased 
to express their sympathy. Congress had 
on several occasions proposed his exchange ; 
but it was prevented after his arrival in New 
York by the difficulties, which embarrassed 
and defeated all attempts for effecting a gen- 
eral cartel between Washington and Howe. 
It was finally agreed, that he should be ex- 
changed for Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell ; 
and on the 3d of May, 1778, he was taken 
from prison and conducted under guard to 
a sloop in the harbor, and thence to Staten 
Island. Here he was politely received by 
the British commander, and kindly treated 
for two days, when Colonel Campbell arriv- 
ed from Elizabeth town, under the charge of 
Mr. Elias Boudinot, the American Commis- 
sary-General of prisoneK-\ It may easily 
be conceived that the meeting was one of 
mutual congratulation and joy.^ The two re- 
leased captives drank a glass of wine to- 
gether in celebration of the event, and Co- 
lonel Allen returned immediately with Mr. 
Boudinot to Elizabethtown. 

His feelings, on once more touching the 



ETHAN ALLEX. 189 

soil and breathing tlio air of freedom, ^vlll 
be left to tlio iraa^:^ination of the reader. 
lie was now restored to his country, the ob- 
ject of a patriotic devotion, that neither the 
cruelty nor the enticements of the enemy 
could diminish ; in Avhoso cause he had suf- 
fered a captivity of two years and seven 
months, under all the rigor of chains, hun- 
ger, and harsh usage. Insensibility made 
no part of his nature, and the soul must be 
callous indeed, that would not thrill with e- 
motion at the recollections of the past, the 
reaUties of the present, and the visions of 
tlie future, that now thronged upon his 
miml. 

Notwithstandinir the stronir associations 

iJ CD 

and tender ties, which drew him towards his 
home and friends, the impulse of gratitude 
Avas the first he obeyed. The hvely interest 
taken in his condition by the Commander- 
in-chief, and liis efibrta to procure his release, 
were known to him, and he resolved to re- 
pair without delay to head-quarters, and ex- 
press in person his sense of the obhgation. 
The army Avas at Valley Forge, and as ho 
advanced mto the country on his way to 
that place, he Avas everyAvhere greeted by 
the people Avitli demonstrations of strong in- 
terest, not unmixed with curiosity at seeing 
a man, the incidents of whose lifo had given 



190 MEMOIR OP 

lilm renown, and wliose fate "while in the 
hands of the enemy had been a subject of 
pubKc concern. General Washington re- 
ceived him cordially, and introduced him to 
the principal officers in camp, who showed 
him many civilities. 

Having thus discharged a dutj^, which he 
believed to be demanded by justice and 
gratitude as the first fruit of his liberty,and 
having remained a few days only at Valley 
Forge, he turned his face towards the Green 
Mountains, and hastened to join his family 
and former associates. From Valley Forge 
to Fishkill he travelled in company with Gen- 
eral Gates, who was proceeding to take com- 
mand of the army on North River. In the 
evening of the last day of May, Colonel Al- 
len arrived in Bennington, unexpected at 
that time by his friends, and a general sen- 
sation was immediately spread throughout 
the neighborhood. The people gathered a- 
round him, and, with a delight vvhich could 
be realised only under circumstances so pe- 
culiar, he witnessed the joy that beamed 
from everv countenance, and heard the ac- 
cents of a hearty welcome uttered by every 
voice. It was a season of festivity with the 
Green Mountain Boys, and the same even- 
ing three cannon were fired, as an audible 
expression of their gladness. Nor did the; 



ETHAN ALLEN. IDI 

Bcene of hilaritv end vrith that clav. Tlic 
next momin.i^ Colonel Ilerrick, who Jiad dis- 
tinguislicd himself by his ])raverY under the 
veteran Stark in the battle of Eenninoiton, 
ordered fourteen discharges of cannon, 
" thirteen for the United States and one for 
Youno; Vermont," as a renewed and more 
amjile comuliment to the early champion 
and fiiithful associate of the Green Moun- 
tain ]5oys. 

Congress was equally mindful of the ser- 
vices and of the just claims of Colonel Al- 
len. As soon as he was released from cap- 
tivity, they granted him a brevet commission 
of colonel in the Continental armv, "in re- 
ward of his fortitude, firmness, and zeal in 
the cause of his countrj^, manifested during 
the course of his long and cruel captivity, as 
well as on former occasions." It was more- 
over resolved, that he should be entitled, du- 
ring the time he was a prisoner, to all the 
lienefits and privileges of a lieutenant-colo- 
nel in the service of the United States. 
That is, he was to receive the pa}- and oth- 
er emoluments of that rank. As the bre- 
vet commission of colonel did not entitle 
him to pay, he was allowed seventy-five dol- 
lars a month from the date of that commis- 
sion, till he should be called into actual ser- 
vice. How long this allowance was contin. 



192 MEMOIR OP 

ued, I have no means of ascerfcaining. It 
does not appear, tliat he ever joined the Con- 
tinental armj. From the above proofs, how- 
ever, it is evident, that the proceedings of 
Congress in regard to him were generous 
and honorable, manifesting at the same time 
a proper sense of his past sufferings, and re- 
spect for his character. 

During his absence, important changes 
had taken place in the afiairs of the New 
Hampshire Grants. The inhabitants had 
made a gradual progress in maturing and es- 
tablishing a new form of government, hav- 
ing declared their territory an independent 
State, under the name of Vermont, framed 
and adiOpted a new constitution, and organ- 
ized the various branches of government by 
the election of a governor and other civil of- 
ficers. In effecting these objects they had 
encountered numerous obstacles, both from 
the internal distractions caused by the inva- 
sion of Burgoyne's army, and from the mach- 
inations and adverse influence of external 
foes. The embers of the old feud with New 
York were stirred up afresh, when the peo- 
ple of Vermont presumed to talk of inde- 
pendence and a separation from that State. 
Governor Clinton, and several other prom- 
inent individuals in New York, had been 
>Yarmly enlisted at an early day against the 



ETHAN ALLEN. lOB 

pretensions of the Green Mountain Boys ; 
and although they -were far from abetting 
or vindicating the rash measures of the col- 
onial administration, yet they were strenu- 
ous in asserting the supremacy of New Yor>k 
over the whole teriitory as far as Connect- 
icut River, and in demanding from the ]^eo- 
ple an obedience to the laws of that State. 
Ilence it followed, that the controversy was 
only narrowed in its extent, but not at all 
changed in it.-^ principles. 

Ethan Allen arrived just in time to buckle 
on his armor, and enter with renovated vig- 
or into a contest, in which he had been 
so conspi(?uou3 and successfid a combatant 
from its very be_ginriing, and with all the 
tactics of which he was perfectly familiar. 
Govenior Clinton, by the authority of the 
New York Legislature, had recently sent 
out a proclamation, reprobating and annul- 
ling the bloody statute heretofore mention- 
ed, acknowledging that attempts contrary to 
justice and policy had been made to dispos- 
sess the original patentees of their lands, 
and putting forth certain overtures for a re- 
conciliation of differences, but taking carr 
to assert the absolute power of New Y.ork 
over the persons and property of such, as 
did not choose to accept these proposals. 
According to the tenor of these overtures. 

^6 



194 MEMOIR OF 

the patents of the governor of New Hamp^ 
shire were all to be confirmed, but a con- 
tinuance of the quit-rents was claimed from 
the purchasers, as under the colonial sys- 
tem, and the unsettled lands were reserved 
as the property of the State. 

The grand feature of the proclamation 
was the assumption of supremacy, and this 
was the point most essential to the people of 
Vemiont, since it struck at the root of their 
poUtical existence. The overtures were 
dressed up in such a manner, as to have a 
plausible appearance, and to be likely to 
lead astray those persons, who thought less 
of preserving their political rights, than of 
the immediate security of their possessions. 
The more Avise and wary, however, took the 
alarm, and among these was Ethan Allen. 
He savf a fatal danger lurking beneath a 
'Sliow of proifered indulgences and fair pro- 
fessions. The cautious Trojan distrusted 
the Greeks even in their acts of apparent 
generosity ; and the leader of the Green 
Mountain Eoys looked with an eye of equal 
suspicion on the spontaneous advances of 
the New Yorkers. In short, every propo- 
sal, come from what quarter it might, which 
did not imply the entire independence of 
Vermont as a separate State and govern- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 195 

ment, was in liis view to be disdained and 
repelled. 

In this spirit ho wrote an address to the 
inliahitants of Vermont, stating briefly the 
grounds of their claims to the privilege of 
self-government, and exhorting them not to 
relax for a moment in their efforts to attain 
the end for which they had struggled so 
long and so hard. A large part of his ad- 
dress w^is taken up in animadverting on 
Governor Chnton's proclamation, in wliich, 
as with a good deal of ingenuity and force 
he made it appear, the overtures of New 
York held out to them nothing which they 
did not already possess, and would deprive 
them of the dearest of earthly treasures, 
their libcrtv. His arguments and his mode 
tif stating them were suited to the people, 
whom ho addressed, and without doubt 
produced the desired effect of confirming 
their confidence in themselves, and inciting 
them to union and perseverance. 

Sometimes he touches on personal inci- 
dents. Alluding to the bloody act of pro- 
scription, which had been passed under 
Governor Tryon, ho observes : "In the life- 
time of that act I was called hy the York- 
ers an outlaw : and afterwards l>y the l^rit- 
ish I was called a rebel ; and I humbly con- 
ceive, that there was as much propriety in 



196 MEMOIR OF 

the ono name as the other ; and I verily 
Ijelieve, that the^King's commissionors would 
now be as willing to pardon for the sin of 
rebelEon, provided I would afterwards b e 
subject to Britain, as the legislature above 
mentioned, provided I would be subject to 
New York ; and I must confess I had as lief 
be a subject of the one as the other, and it 
is well known I have had great experience 
with them both.'' 

In his concluding remarks on the over- 
tures in the proclamation he says, still ad- 
dressing himself to the people ; " The main 
inducement I had in answering them was, to 
■draw a full and convincing proof from the 
same, that the shortest, best, and most elig- 
ible, I had almost said the only possible 
way of vacating those New York interfer- 
ing grants, is to maintain inviolable the su- 
premacy of the legislative authority of the 
independent State of Vermont. This, at 
one stroke, overturns every New York 
scheme, which may be calculated for our 
ruin, makes us freemen, confirms our prop- 
erty, and puts it fairly in our power to help 
ourselves in the enjoyment of the great bless- 
ings of a free, uncorrupted, and virtuous civ- 
il government. You have fought, bled, and 
hitherto conquered, and are as deserving of 
those good fruits of your valor, hazard. 



etua:; allex. liiT 

and toil, as any people under heaven. 

'• You have experienced every spocics of 
oppression, which the old government of New 
York, with a Tryon at their head, could in- 
vent and inflict ; and it is manifest, that the 
now government are minded to follow in 
their steps. Happy is it for you, that you 
are fitted for the severest trials. You have 
been wonderfully supported and carried 
through thus far in your opposition to that 
government. Formerly you liad every thing 
to fear from it ; but now, you Imve little to 
fear, for your public character is established, 
and your cause known to be ju^^t. In your 
early struggles with that government you 
acquired a reputation of bravery ; this gave 
you a relish for martial glory, and the Brit- 
ish invasion opened an ample iield for its dis- 
play, and you have gone on conquering and 
to conquer until tall grcnadiei-s are dismay- 
ed and tremble at your ajijjroach. Your 
frontier situation often obliges you to Ix^ in 
arms and battles : and by repeated march- 
ing, scoutings, and manly exercises, your 
nerves liave become strong to strike the mor- 
tal blow. "What enemy of the State of Ver- 
mont, or what Xew York land-mono[)olizer, 
shall be able to stand before you in the day 
of vour fierce an;:^er!" 

By harangues like this, abounding more 



198 MEMOIR OF 

in strong expressions, than in good taste or 
a graceful diction, he wrought upon the minds 
of the people, and inclined them to his wish- 
es. But it should be said to his praise, con- 
sidering the scenes he passed through, that 
on no occasion did he encourage or counten- 
ance laxness in government, or disobedience 
to the laws and magistrates, recognised as 
such by the people themselves. " Any 
one," he remarks, '' who is acquainted -with 
mankind and things, must know, that it is 
impossible to manage the political matters of 
this country without the assistance of civil 
government. A large body of people des- 
titute of it, is like a ship at sea, without a 
helm or mariner, tossed by the impetuous 
waves. We could not enjoy domestic peace 
and security, set aside the consequences of 
a British war and the New York strife, with- 
out civil regulations. The two last consid- 
erations do, in the most striking manner, ex- 
cite us to strengthen and confirm the gov- 
ernment already set up by the authority of 
the people, which is the fountain of all tem- 
poral power, and from which the subjects of 
the State of Vermont have already received 
such signal advantages." These sentiments 
he avowed repeatedly, and even when he was 
stirring up and leading out the mobs of Ben- 
nington, he always declared it was in self- 



ETHAN ALLEX. 1{)9 

defence, the result of a necessity forced up- 
on them by their cncmioa ; and he never 
ceased to recommend order, good faith, and 
submission to the laws, as essential to the 
prosperity and happiness of the community. 

AVe here discover, in fact, the explanation 
of the successful progress of the people in 
rearing up a political fabiic, which became 
solid and durable, although for-several years 
they were apparently in a state of confu- 
sion, if not of anarchy. But tliis was more 
in appearance than reality. There were no 
internal broils or commotions, that in any 
degree disturbed the general order of soci- 
ety. United in one great object of resisting 
a common foe, and impelled by the same in- 
terests and aims, they had fc\y motives for 
dissensions among themselves ; and this un- 
nion not only pointed out the necessity of 
rules of government, but afforded opportu- 
nities to frame and adopt them in such a 
manner, that they were acceptable and effi- 
cient. The inhabitants of the Grants were 
mostly natives of the New England colonies, 
and possessed a similarity in their sentiments 
and habits, which enabled them ot harmon- 
ize tlie more easily in regulating public con- 
cerns. 

Committees of safety and conventions 
were the contrivances to which they resorted. 



200 MEMOIR OF 

for setting in motion and sustaining the ma^- 
chinery of government. These were or- 
ganized on the strictest republican princi- 
ples, being created and constituted by the 
people themselves, acting at first voluntari- 
ly in theii' individual capacity, and agreeing 
to be controlled by the voice of a majority. 
Upon this basis the committees were intrust- 
ed with all the power requisite to form reg- 
ulations for local purposes. The conventions 
attained the same objects in a broader sphere, 
and with higher authority. The system was 
pecidiarly felicitous in being adapted to com- 
munities of every description, and to small 
numbers as well as large. Its principles 
were likewise the elements of the best con- 
structed governments; and hence the peo- 
ple were gradually trained up in the art of 
self-control, and qualified to assume and 
maintain the character of an independent 
State, even while embarrassed by the hostil- 
ity and interference of the neighboring pow- 
ers. It is remarkable, that the plan of con- 
ventions and committees, which was adopted 
by all the States at the beginning of the 
Ee volution 5 had previously been eight years 
in practice among the first settlers of Ver- 
mont. 

Considering the part, which Ethan Allen 
had acted before his captivity, and the con- 



ETUAX ALLEN. 201 

eistoncy of Lis conduct, it was to ho expect- 
ed, that he would embark witli liis accus- 
tomed zeal in a cause, which had now ac- 
•|uired a new importance, and especially as 
it was still involved in the old quarrel with 
Isew York. As his countrymen had nut for- 
gotten the militaty rank to which they raised 
him in the season of tlicir foniier perils, nor 
tlie services he rendered at the head of the 
<irecn Mountain Boys, and were disposed 
to profit again by his sword, as well as by 
his pen and liis counsels, he was, soon after 
his return, appointed a general and com- 
mander of the miUtia of the State. A 
stronger proof of the confidence could not 
have been shown, more particularly at this 
time, when an invasion of the British from 
Canada might at any moment be apprehend- 
ed, and when the delicate relations subsist- 
ing between Vermont and two adjoining 
States threatened an ultimate resort to arms 
as a possible consequence, either to quell 
internal factions, or to resist aggressions from 
abroad. 

Meantime an incident occurred, which en- 
cumbered the afihirs of Vermont with other 
dithculties. For certain political reasons, 
sixteen t<jwnships in the western juarts of 
New Hampshire, bordering on Connecticut 
river, formed a combination to desert from 



202 MEMOIR OF 

that State and join themselves to Vermont. 
They sent a petition for that purpose to the 
Vermont legislature ; but it was at first no 
farther acted upon than to refer it to the 
people. At the next meeting of the legis- 
lature it was found, that a majority of the 
legal voters was in favor of admitting the 
sixteen to"\vnshipB. Hence a new enemy 
was raised up, and the field of discord en- 
larged. The governor of New Hampshii^ 
wrote a spirited protest to the governor of 
Vermont, claiming the sixteen townsbips as 
a part of that State, and deprecating such 
an unwarrantable dismemberment. He wrote 
at the same time to the Continental Con- 
gress, demanding their interference in a mai>- 
ter of vital moment, not only to New Hamp- 
shire, but to every State in the Union, 
should such a disorganizing act be tolerated 
as a precedent. 

The Vermont Assembly saw their error 
too late to retract it, since they had referred 
the subject to the people, and were bound to 
abide by their decision. To set the thing in 
as fair a Hght as it would bear, however, 
they appointed General Allen a special a- 
gent to proceed to Philadelphia, and explain 
to Congress this point and others requiring 
explanation, and endeavor as far as possible 
to ascertain the views of the members in re- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 203 

gard to the independence of Vermont, and 
•what wa=5 to be expected from tlie future de- 
liberations of that body. 

Furnished with proper instructions, Gen- 
eral Allen repaired to Philadelphia, and ap- 
plied himself to the duties of his mission. 
lie soon discovered the undertaking to be 
surrounded ■\\ith more difficulties, than he 
had anticipated. Distinct from the abso- 
lute merits of the case, there yfcvo in Con- 
gress party di\dsions, emanating from vari- 
ous sources, which prevented any union of 
action or sentiment on the subject of Ver- 
mont. The New England members Avcre 
mostly in favor of granting independence. 
This was not less the dictate of sound poli- 
cy, than of the natural feelings of attach- 
ment to people closely allied to themselves 
and their constituents. Another State in 
the bosom of New En2;land would of course 
strengthen the power and influence of the 
whole in the general scale. It was to be 
presumed, therefore, that the New England 
States would second the claims of Averment ; 
nor was this presumption weakened by any 
hereditary good will, that had formerly ex- 
isted between those States and New York. 

Unfortunately New riam[ishire, for tlie 
reasons above stated, had Iteen induced to 
deviate from the line of her neii^hbors, un- 



204 MEM OIK OF 

der the apprehension that her interests -^yere 
in jeopardy. She was indeed meditating 
ambitious projects of her own, and forming 
a design to defeat the pretensions of Ver- 
mont, by extending her jurisdiction as far 
as Lake Champlain, and drawing the whole 
territory within her limits. She thus placed 
herself in rivalship with New York, in hos- 
tility to Vermont, and at variance with the 
other adjoining States. 

Taking these considerations into ^dew, 
and the known enmity of the New York 
members, General Allen's prospects of car- 
rying back a satisfactory report to his friends 
were faint and discouraging. The southern 
delegates were diJBferent, or only adhered to 
one side or the other as a means of exert- 
ing a party influence. It is doubtless true, 
also, that several members were conscien- 
tiously opposed to any decision by Congress, 
behoving the question not to come within 
the powers iQti'usted to that assembly. 
They argued, that the subject could not 
rightfully be brought before them in any 
shape, except in obedience to special instruc- 
tions from the respective States, Others 
again denied the power of Congress to in- 
terfere at all, affirming that Vermont was 
in fact independent, and had a right to set 
up such a scheme of government as she 



ETHAN ALLEN. 205 

cliosc. Tills was a short mode of settling 
the controversy, but it would hardly satisfy 
the scruples of New York, or the aspiring 
hoped of New Hampshire. 

On his return from this mission, General 
Allen presented a rcpc^rt to the legislature 
of Yei'mont, containing the result of his ob- 
servations, in which he gave it as his opin- 
ion, ''' tliat tlie New York complaints woidd 
never prov(f of sufficient force in Congress 
to prevent the estabhshment of the State of 
Vermont," and ad\-ised the legislature by 
all means to rcc-edo from the union with 
the SLxten toTvnships, since it could never be 
approved by Con<^ress without violating the 
articles of confederation, by which the rights 
and original extent of each State were guar- 
antied. On this topic ho spoke with deci- 
sion and force. 

In addition to the general objects of his 
mission, the \isit to Congi'ess was not with- 
out advantage to himself and his constitu- 
ents. It made him intimately acquaintod 
with the views of the delegates in Congress, 
and with the argTm[ient3 used by various in- 
dividuals and parties. lie ascertained like- 
wise how far policy and inrlividual bias on the 
one hand, and a regard for the absolute mer- 
its of the question on the other, operated in 
giving a complexion to the national councils. 



206 MEMOIR OF 

Tliis knowledge had an important influ- 
ence on the future proceedings of Vermont. 
General Allen turned it to an immediate ac- 
count^ and he wrote a treatise vindicating 
the course hitherto pursued by Vermont, 
and maintainmg the justice of her claim to 
set up such a form of government, as the 
people themselves should judge most condu- 
cive to their prosperity and happiness.* Mr. 
Jay said of this book, in writiilg to a mem- 
ber of Congress when it first appeared, 
" There is a quaintness, impudence, and art 
in it." He might have added, argument 
and the evidences of a good cause. 

In these unwearied labors for the defence 
of the rights and dignity of the State, and 
in superintending its military aifairs as com- 
mander of the militia. General Allen's time 
was fully employed. It was at this period, 
that the British generals in America began 
to meditate the scheme of bringing Vermont 
into a union with Canada, by taking advan- 
tage of the disputes, which had continued 
so long and waxed so warm, that it was sup- 
posed Vermont had become alienated from 
Congress and the opposing States, and would 

*Thc tract was entiOed, A Vindication of the Opposi- 
tion of the Inhabitants of Verinont to the Government of New 
Yoi-]c, and of their Right to form an Indej>e-ndent State. 
It was published in 1779, by order of the Goyernor 
and Council, or with their approbation. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 207 

be ready to accept tempting overtures from 
the British. This idea received encourage- 
ment from the circumstance, that Congress 
aftbrded but _ a slender defence to the fron- 
tiers of Vormont, although the governor of 
Canada was in condition to make a descent 
■with a force sufficient to bear down any op- 
position, that could bo interposed by the 
whole strenirth of the State. The first 
step was to bring over some of the leaders^; 
and as Ethan Allen was the most conspicu- 
ous of these, and also the military cliieftain, 
the attempt was made upon him. That liis 
views might be ascertained on this subject, 
the foUowinG; letter was written to him bv 
Beverly llobinson, colonel of a regiment of 
loyal Americans, or, in other words, refu; 
gees adhering to the British cause and em- 
bodied in the British army. 

New York, March 30th, ITSO. 

" Sir, 

"I am now undertaking a task, which I 
hope you will receive with the same good in- 
tention, that inclines me to make it. I have 
often been informed, that you and most of 
the inhabitants of Vermont are opposed to 
the wild and chimerical scheme of the Amer- 
icans, in attempting to separate this conti- 
nent from Great Britain, and tocstabhsh an 



208 MEMOIR OP 

independent State of their o\nti ; and that 
you would willingly assist in imiting Ameri^ 
ca again to Great Britain, and restoring 
that happy constitution we have so wanton- 
ly and unadvisedly destroyed. If I have 
been rightly informed, and these should be 
your sentiments and inclination, I beg you 
will communicate to me without reserve 
whatever proposals you would wish to make 
to the Commander-in-chief, and I here prom- 
ise that I will faithfully lay them before him 
according to your directions, and I flatter 
myself I can do it to as good effect as any 
person whatever. I can make no proposals 
to you until I know your sentiments ; but I 
thiak, upon your taking an active part, and 
embodying the inhabitants of Vermont in fa- 
vor of the crown of England to act as the 
Commander-in-chief shall direct, that you 
may obtain a separate government under the 
King and constitution of England, and the 
men be formed into regiments under such of- 
ficers as you shall recommend, and be on the 
same footing as all the provincial corps are 
here. 

" I am an American myself, and feel much 
for the distressed situation my poor country 
is in at present, and am anxious to be ser- 
viceable toward restoring it to peace, and 
that mild and good government we have 



ETHAN ALLEN. 209 

lost. I have therefore ventured to address 
myself to you on this subject, and I hope 
you will see it in a proper light, and be as 
candid -with me. I am inclinable to think, 
that one reason -why this unnatural war has 
continued so long is, that all the Americans, 
who wish and think it would be for the inter- 
est of this country to have a constitutional 
and equitable connexion with Great Britain, 
do not communicate their sentiments to each 
other so often and so freely as they ought 
to do. 

" In case you should disapprove of my 
hintmg these things to you, and do not choose 
to make any proposals to government, I hope 
you will not suffer any insult to be offered to 
the bearer of this letter ; but allow him to 
return in safety, as I can assure you he is 
entirely ignorant of its contents ; but if you 
should think it proper to send proposals to 
me, to be laid before the Commander-in- 
chief, I do now give you my word, that, if 
they are not accepted, or complied with by 
him, of which I will inform you, the matter 
shall be buried in oblivion between us. J 
will only add, that if yoii should think prop- 
er to send a friend of your own here, with 
proposals to the general, he sliall be protect- 
ed and well treated here, and allowed to re- 

u 



210 MEMOIR OF 

turn whenever lie pleases. I can add noth- 
ing furtlier at present, but my best wishes 
for the restoration of the peace and happi- 
ness of America. I am, &c. 

" Beverly Sobinson." 

This letter, artful and plausible as it was, 
made no impression upon the patriotism of 
Ethan Allen. Although written in Februa- 
ry it was not received till July. He imme- 
diately sent back the meF^senger, and in con- 
fidence comDniiiicated the letter to the gov- 
ernor and a few other friends, who all agreed 
with him, that it was best to pass it over in 
silence. That they might not be outdone, 
liowever, in the allowable stratagems of war, 
they bethought themselves to turn to a prof- 
itable purpose this advance on the part of 
the enemy. The British were expected soon 
to appear on Lake Champlain in great force, 
and it was a thing of essential importance 
in the present difficult condition of Vermont, 
to ward off the impending danger. Several 
prisoners from this State were now in Cana- 
da, and it was advised that the governor 
should" write to the commander in Canada, 
proposing a cartel for an exchange. A let- 
ter was written accordingly despatched with 
a flag. The object was to produce delay,, 
aiid by a finesse to lead the enemy to pursue 



ETHAN ALLEN. 211 

tJicir ideas of dra'^Ning Vermont over to 
their interest. While this shoukl be foster- 
ed, it was not probable they Ts'ould attack the 
people, "whom they Avished to conciliate. 

No answer was returned, till the enemy's 
fle et was seen coming up the Lake in a for- 
midable attitude, spreading an alaiTQ far and 
wide, and apparently threatening an imme- 
diate invasion. Many persons took their 
arms and marched to the frontier. But no 
hostile acts were committed. The command- 
er on board the fleet sent a flas; to General 
Allen, with a letter to the governor of Ver- 
mont, assenting on the part of General Hal- 
dimand, commander-in-chief of the British 
army in Canada, to the proposal for an ex- 
change of prisoners, and oifering a truce 
with Vermont till the cartel should be ar- 
ranged. 

This preliminary negotiation of a truce 
was conducted by General Allen. In de- 
fining the extent of territory ,which the truce 
should cover, he included all the settlements 
as far west as the Hudson Biver. To this 
extension the British objected, as not being 
within the bounds of Vermont. Such an ar- 
rangement would moreover prevent the ex- 
pedition up the Lake from acipiiring honor, 
or attaining any ostensible object ; whereas, 
if not hampered with the truce, it might act 



212 MEMOIR OP 

with some effect on the frontiers of New 
York. This was a strong motive for insist- 
ing, that the truce should be confined strictly 
within the limits of Vermont, but as Gener- 
al Allen was unyielding, the officer gave way, 
and it was definitelv settled as reaching to 
Hudson's River. This was a dictate of 
sound policy, as appeared in the subsequent 
Idstory of Vermont. It had a conciliatory 
effect upon the inhabitants of that part of 
New York included in the truce. Their an- 
tipathy was disarmed, and at one time they 
even courted a union with Vermont. 

As this was a secret arrangement, and not 
then made known publicly, the people were 
surprised to see the fleet retreating down the 
Lake, and the military disbanded and going 
home. Commissioners were appointed by 
the governor of Vermont to meet others 
from Canada, and settle the terms of a car- 
tel. The season was so far advanced, how- 
ever, that they were obstructed in their voy- 
age across the Lake by the ice, and obliged 
to return. Nothing was done during the 
winter. The advantage thus far gained by 
Vermont was, that a campaign of the ene- 
my on her borders had been rendered inef- 
fectual. As a compensation, the British 
supposed they had made good progress in de- 
taching from Congress the affections of a dis* 



ETHAN ALLEN. 213 

contented province, and winning them over 
to the King. 

As these transactions were well known to 
tlie enemy in New York, Colonel llobinson 
was concerned not to have received an an- 
swer to his letter. Thinking it might liave 
miscarried, although he had sent a duplicate 
and triplicate, or assuming such a supposi- 
tion as a pretence for writing again, he des- 
patched a second letter to Ethan Allen, dat- 
ed February 2d, 1781. In this was enclos- 
ed a fourth copy of the first, an4 it contain- 
ed the following paragraph. 

" The frequent accounts we have had for 
three months past, from your part of the 
country, confirms me in the opinion I had 
of your inclination to join the King's cause, 
and assist in restoring America to her for- 
mer peaceable and happy constitution. This 
induces me to make another trial in sending 
this to you, especially as I can now write 
with more authority, and assure you that 
you may obtain the terms mentioned in the 
above letter, provided you and the people of 
Vermont take an active part with us. I 
beg to have an answer to this as soon as pos- 
sible, and that you will, if it is your inten- 
tion, point out some method of carrying on 
u corresj^ondenc« for the future ; also in 



214 MEMOIR 0P« 

what manner you can be most serviceable to 
government, either by acting with the north- 
ern army, or to meet and join an army from 
hence. I should be glad if you would give 
me every information, that may be useful 
to the Commander-in-chief here." 

Shortly after receiving this second epistle, 
General Allen sent them both to the Conti- 
nental Congress, accompanied by one of his 
own, in which he expressed in very emphat- 
ical language his sentiments in regard to the 
interests of Vermont, and the unjustifiable 
attempts of the adjoining States to abridge 
her rights and even destroy her existence. 
Having explained the mode in which the let- 
ters came into his hands, and mentioned his 
having shown the first to Governor Chitten- 
den and other gentlemen, he proceeds as 
follows. 

" The result, after mature deliberation, 
and considering the extreme circumstances 
of the State, was, to take no further notice 
of the matter. The reasons for such a pro- 
cedure are very obvious to the people of this 
State, when they consider that Congress 
have previously claimed an exclusive right 
of arbitrating on the existence of Vermont, 
as a separate government ; New York, New 



ETUAX ALLEN. 215 

Ilarapsliirc, and Massachusetts Bay at the 
Bamc time cUiiming this territory, cither m 
v/hole or in part, and exerting their iniluence 
to make schisnis among her citizens, there- 
b}^, in a considerable degree weakening this 
government, and exposing its inhabitants to 
the incursion oF tlic British troops, and their 
savage alhes fi'om the province of Quebec. 
It seems those governments, regardless of 
Vermont's contiguous situation to Cana- 
da, do not consider that their northern fron- 
tiers have been secured by Iier, nor the mer- 
it of this State in a long and hazardous TN'ar; 
but have flattered themselves with the ex- 
pectation, that tliis State could not fail ("with 
their holp^ to be desolated by a foreign ene- 
my, and that their exorbitant claims and av- 
aricious designs may at some future period 
take place in this district of country. 

" I am confident that Congress will not 
dispute my sincere attachment to the cause 
of my country, though I do not hesitate to 
say, I am fully grounded in opinion, that 
Vermont has an indubitable right to agree 
on terms of a cessation of hostilities with 
Great Britain, provided the United States 
persist in rejecting her application for a un- 
ion with them ; for Vermont, of all people, 
would bo the most miserable, were she oblig- 



216 MEMOIR OF 

ed to defend the independence of the united 
claiming States, and they, at the same time^ 
at full liberty to overturn and ruin the inde- 
pendence of Vermont. I am persuaded^ 
when Congress consider the circumstances 
of this State, they will be the more surpris- 
ed, that I have transmitted to them the en- 
closed letters, than that I have kept them in 
custody so long ; for I am as resolutely de- 
termined to defend the independence of Ver- 
mont, as Congress are that of the United 
States; and rather than fail, I will retire with 
hardy Green Mountain Boys into the deso- 
late caverns of the mountains, and wage war 
with human nature at large." 

The concluding words of thi& paragraph 
may be considered as characteristic of the- 
writer ; but the sentiments expressed in the 
letter, respecting the allegiance due from. 
Vermont to the United States, were unques- 
tionably entertained by all the principal men 
of that State. Independence was their 
first and determined purpose ; and, while 
tliey were neglected by Congress, and, like 
another Poland, threatened with a triple par- 
tition between the adjoining States, they 
felt at liberty to pursue any course, that 
would secure their safety, and conduct them 
towards their ultimate object. It was on,. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 217 

this principle, that thcj encouraged advances 
to be made by the British, and not that they 
ever had the remotest intention of deserting 
the cause of their country, or submitting in 
any manner to the jurisdiction of the Eng- 
lish government. 

^Vl^le the war continued, however, these 
negotiations with the enemy were carried on 
with much address, and so successfully as to 
prevent any further hostilities from Canada. 
A correspondence was kept up, which was 
known only to a few persons, and was chief- 
ly managed by Etlian Allen and his brother 
Ira Allen. Messengers came to them se- 
cretly with letters, and waited in conceal- 
ment till consultations were held, and ans- 
wers prepared, Avith which they returned to 
Canada. 'Hih was a slow process, but it 
served to amuse the enemy, and keep their 
hopes alive. While this could be done, Ver- 
mont was safe from attack, and had only to 
apprehend the artifices of those, who were 
striving by the weapons of the civil power to 
annihilate her freedom. 

The English ministry had at one time san- 
guine expectations from the prospect of af- 
fairs in this quarter. I have seen two let- 
ters from Lord (xermain to Sir Henry Clin- 
ton, one written in Eebruary and the other 
in JnnCy 1781, whereia the mmister congrat- 



218 MEMOIR OP 

iilates the commander-in-chief on the happy 
return of the people of Vermont to their al- 
legiance, and represents it as an important 
event. He adds, that, should Washington 
and the French meditate an irruption into 
Canada, they would find in Vermont an in- 
surmountable barrier to their attempts ; and 
also that G eneral lialdimand would undoubt- 
edly send a body of troops to act in con- 
junction with the people, secure the avenues 
through the country, and, when the season 
should admit, take possession of the upper 
parts of the Hudson and Connecticut Riv- 
ers, and cut oiF tlie communication between 
Albany and the Mohavfk country. Again, 
he observes, that, should the people of Ver- 
mont be menaced by a detachment from 
Washington's army, General Haldimand 
would have forces ready to throw in among 
them, by which they would be relieved from 
any fears of the resentment of Congress, 
and see it to be their wisest and safest course 
to return to their loyalty. Such were the 
vagaries of Lord George Germain in his of- 
fice at Whitehall, even within a few months 
of the capitulation at Yorktown. And in 
truth they present a very just specimen of 
the strange reveries, surprising ignorance, 
or wilful blindness of that minister, in regard 
t'O American affairs, during the whole war. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 219 

General Allen -was not entirely occupied 
"VN-ith the duties of his military station. At 
the next election after his return from cap- 
tivity, he was cliosea a representative to the 
Assembly of his State. How long he con- 
thiued in public life as a legislator, or how 
long he retained the active command of the 
militia, I have not been able to ascertain. 
"When peace was restored, however, he seems 
to have resumed his agricultural habits, and 
devoted himself to his private affairs, lie 
was a practical farmer, accustomed to labor 
witli his own hands, and sul^mit to the pri- 
vations and hardships, which necessarily at- 
tend tlic condition of pioneers in a new coun- 
try. 

In this retirement he published a work on 
a series of topics very different from those, 
wliich had heretofore employed his pen.* 
lie says in the l*reface, that he had been 
from his youtli addicted to contemplation, 
and had from time to time committed his 
tlioughts to paper. This book purports to 
be tlie result of his lucubrations, revised, ar- 
ranged, and prepared with much labor for 
the press. In its literary execution it is 

* This book is entitled, Reason the only Oracle of 
Man, or a conipeiulions Syst on of Natural Rd'njion. It 
■vvas puhlisho'l at licniiington, iu the year 17S4. The 
■prcfiicc is dated July 2d, 1782. 



220 MEMOIR OF 

much superior to any of his other -writings, 
and was evidently elaborated with great pa- 
tience of thought and care in the composi- 
tion. It is nevertheless a crude and worth- 
less performance, in which truth and error, 
reason and sophistry, knowledge and ignor- 
ance, ingenuity and presumption, are min- 
gled together in a chaos, which the author 
denominates a system. Some of the chap- 
ters on natural religion, the being and attri- 
butes of God, aud the principles and obli- 
gations of morality, should perhaps be ex- 
cepted from this sweeping remark ; for, al- 
though they contain little that is new, yet 
they are written in a tone, and express sen- 
timents, which may screen them from so 
heavy a censure. 

Foundino; religion on the attributes of the 
Deity and the nature of things, as interpret- 
ed by reason, the author takes it for granted, 
that there is no necessity for a revelation, 
and thence infers, that the Christian Revel- 
ation and miracles are false ; and he argues 
against the Old Testament upon the same 
principles. Historical facts and internal ev- 
idence, the only basis of correct reasoning 
on this subject, are passed over in silence. 
There is no proof that the author ever ex- 
amined them. It must be allowed, however, 
that he mistook some of the errors of Chris- 



ETHAN ALLEN. 221 

tian sects for the true doctrines of revealed 
relii^ion, and that his views, as to the reaUty 
and nature of the system itself, were per- 
verted by this misapprehension. 

If we may jud^e, also, from various pas- 
sages m this book, some of his biographers 
have not done him strict justice in regard to 
his religious opinions. They have affirmed, 
that ; he believed in the metempsychosis of 
the ancients, or the transmigration of souls 
after death into beasts, or fishes, and that 
'' he often informed his friends, that he him- 
self expected to live again in the form of a 
large white horse." If he was absurd and 
frivolous enough to say such a thing in con- 
versation, he has certainly expressed very 
different sentiments in his writings. No 
person could declare more explicitly his be- 
lief in a future state of rewards and punish- 
ments, and a just retribution, than he has 
done in the following passages contained in 
this book. 

" We should so far divest ourselves," he 
observes, " of the incumbrances of this 
world, which are too apt to engross our at- 
tention, as to acquire a consistent system of 
the knowledge of our duty, and make it our 
constant endeavor in life to act conformably 
to it. The knowledge of the being, porfoc- 



222 MEMOIU OE 

tlons, creation, and providence of God, and- 
the immortality of our souls, is the founda- 
tion of our rehgion." Again, " As true as 
mankind now exist and are endowed with 
reason and understanding, and have the pow- 
er of agency and proficiency in moral good 
and evil, so true it is, that they must he ul- 
timately rewarded or punished according to 
their respective merits or demerits ; and it is 
as true as this world exists, and rational and 
accountahle beings inhabit it, that the dis- 
tribution of justice therein is partial, une- 
qual, and uncertain; and it is consequently 
as true as that there is a God, that there 
must be a future state of existence, in which 
the disorder, injustice, oppression, and vi- 
ciousness, which are acted and transacted, 
by mankind in this life, shall be righteously 
adjusted, and the delinquents suitably pun- 
ished." 

To what extent these doctrines bear out 
the charge of a belief in the transmigrati on 
of souls, let the reader judge. 

After the publication of the above work, 
I have not found recorded any events in the 
life of Ethan Allen, which are sufficiently 
important to be commemorated ; unless it 
be the circumstance of his having been so- 
licited, by Shays and his associates, to take 



ETHAN ALLEN. 22SI 

command of tlic insurgents in Massachusetts. 
He rejected the proposal -with disdain, send- 
ing back the messengers -vvho brought it, 
-with a reprimand for tlieir presumption, and 
at the same time writing a letter to the gov- 
ernor of Massachusetts, in which he ex- 
pressed his abhorrence of the insurrection, 
and assured the governor that his influence 
should be used to prevent any of its agents 
and abettors from receiving countenance or 
takinir refu";o in Vermont. This was con- 
formable to all his previous conduct ; for, 
notwithstanding the scenes of turbulence in 
which he was often engaged, it should be re- 
membered to his honor, that he was ever, in 
theory and practice, a firm supporter of civ- 
il government when founded in equity and. 
the rights of the people. So rigid was li» 
in his patriotism, that, when it was discover- 
ed that one of his brothers had avowed To- 
ry principles, and been guilty of a corres- 
])ondence with the enemy, he entered a pub- 
lic complaint against him in his own name, 
an<l petitioned the court to confiscate his 
property in obedience to the laws of tho 
tState. 

Before the end of the war, General Al- 
len removed from Bennington, which had 
long boon his place of residence, lie was 
next for a short time an inhabitant of Ar- 



224 MEMOIR Oi? 

lington, afterwards of Sunderland, and final- 
ly he settled himself in the vicinity of On- 
ion River, where he and his brothers had 
purchased large tracts of land. He was 
twice married. His second wife, and chil- 
dren, by both marriages, survived him. 
Through life he possessed a robust constitu- 
tion, and uncommonly good health ; but his 
<5areer was suddenly terminated by an apo- 
plexy, at Burlington, in the year 1789. 

We have thus sketched the principal in- 
cidents in the hfe of a man, who holds a 
place of some notoriety in the history of his 
time. His character w^as strongly marked^ 
both by its excellences and defects ; but it 
may safely be said, that the latter were at- 
tributable more to circumstances beyond his 
control, than to any original obliquity of his 
mind or heart. The want of early educa- 
tion, and the habits acquired by his pursuits 
in a rude and uncultivated state of society 
were obstacles to his attainment of some of 
the higher and better qualities, which were 
not to be overcome. A roughness of man- 
ners and coarseness of language, a pre- 
sumptuous way of reasoning upon all sub- 
jects, and his religious skepticism, may be 
traced to these sources. Faults of this 
stamp, and others akin to them, admit of no 
defence, though, when viewed in connexion 



ETHAN ALLEN. 22;") 

■\vitli their causes, ilicj may linvc claims to a 
charitable judgment. Had his understand- 
ing been weak, his temperament less ardent, 
his disposition less inquisitive, and his desire 
of honorable distinction less eager, the ^vorld 
woidd probably never heard of his fudts; 
the shield of insignificance -would have -ov- 
cred them ; but it -was his destiny to be con- 
,spicuous, Avithout the art to conceal or cul- 
ture to soften his foiijles. 

Yet there is much to admire in tlie char- 
acter of Ethan Allen. lie uas brave, gen- 
erous, and frank, true to his friends, true 
to his country, consistent and unyielding in 
his purposes, seeking at all times to promote 
the best interests of mankind, a lover of so- 
cial harmony, and a determined foe to the 
artifices of injustice and the encroachments 
of power. 1: cw have suftcred more in the 
cause of freedom, few have borne their suf- 
ferings with a firmer constancy or a loftier 
spirit. His courage, even when apparent- 
ly a})proaching to rashness, was calm and 
dchberate. No man probably ever possess- 
ed this attribute in a more remarkable de- 
gree. He was eccentric and ambitious, but 
these weaknessc-', if such they were, never 
betrayed him int<» act<^ dislionorable, unwor- 
thy, or selfish. His enemies never hr d cause 
to question ins magnanimity, nor hi i frienda 

15 



226 MEMOIE OP ETHAN ALLEN. 

to regret- confidence misplaced or expecta- 
tions disappointed. He was kind and be- 
nevolent, humane and placable. In short, 
whatever may have been his peculiarities, or 
however these may have diminished the 
weight of his influence and the value of his 
public services, it must be allowed, that he 
was a man of very considerable inportance 
in the sphere of his activity, and that to no 
individual among her patriot founders is the 
State of Vermont more indebted for the ba- 
sis of her free institutions, and the achieve- 
ment of her independence, than to Ethan 
Allen. . 



N«-^ 



EERATtTM. — On the 5th page, 12th line from the bottom, for 
" ONLY " read " earlt." The reader is desired to make this 
correction, with a pen or otherwise, as the present reading 
gives an entirely different meaning from the one intended hy 
tSic author. 



FROM THE ST. ALBANS MESSENGER. 



"We have here the life of the favoritt 
Hero of Vermont, from the pen of the firsi 
biographical writer of the present age. 

It was written for, and published by the 
distinguished Author in his American Bio- 
graphy, for which every source of informa- 
tion was examined, and is here copied by his 
permission. 

No publication can be more opportune at 
the present time, when the subject is exci- 
ting so much interest, and it is particularly 
fortunate that it has been done by such an 
able and impartial hand. To the people of 
Vermont we heartily commend it." 



-^ 



.•^ 



-i.^ . . \- ' « -¥ 






■0^ >":"^ -^ 



^-^ A^ 









O' 



V.P, 



'/^. 



v3 / 



^/. * '. s ^ . ^>^ 



%-. * » I A-^' ^0- 



'^^ 


/ 




.^^' 


'"--p. 


/. ^ 



•\ 



cO- 



" v\ 



A^- 






^- -^ >:^ 






>0 o 



•.^ 



,..,v>^' 






<> ^■ 



.0- 






.\- 



..\V 



,x>' '^r.. 



L^ ^> 



<"' 



^, 



•/• 



>0 o. 






/'. 



o\ 








■^ 0^ : 




-^ 


^.,^' 






N 


,v^%, 






^0 




-0 A^ 


^' 


■>" 



,00 



■■'. ^. 



^> 



■ o- 






■x^ 



"aH, y ^j rk 





■A^^' 




:;^v 




<-> 





'^' 




-<:; 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




011 699 176 7 



■ 


1 




